Collection:LPB

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1987-05-25

Duration: 00:58:20

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | UNEMPLOYMENT | Economy

Contributors:

• Bell, Warren Host
• White, Jeff Producer
• Jackson, Terrence Reporter
• Brooksher, Bob Interviewee
• Koenecke, Merlin Interviewee
• Williams, Lawrence Interviewee
• Harvey, Percy Interviewee
• Harris, Ronnie Interviewee
• Jupiter, Adele Interviewee
• de la Houssaye, Mary Interviewee
• Robinson, Oliver Interviewee
• Richardson Jim Panelist
• Crowe, Carl Panelist
• Pourciau, Lester Panelist
• Sawyer, Ginger Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana’s Workforce in Crisis” from May 25, 1987, features Warren Bell leading a discussion between the panelists and audience members on Louisiana’s high unemployment rate. The panelists are: Dr. Jim Richardson, a professor of economics at LSU; Carl Crowe of the Louisiana AFL-CIO; Lester Pourciau, the associate director of personnel and affirmative action at LSU; and Ginger Sawyer, the vice president of administration at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). A background report by Terrence Jackson precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Bob Brooksher of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association; Merlin Koenecke of Ethyl Corporation; Mayor Lawrence Williams of Napoleonville, Louisiana; Percy Harvey, unemployed worker; Ronnie Harris, unemployed worker; Adele Jupiter, unemployed worker; Mary de la Houssaye of the LSU Career Planning and Placement Center; and Oliver Robinson of the Louisiana Department of Labor. The panelists and audience members then discuss: the reasons for Louisiana’s high unemployment rate; the higher unemployment rate among minorities and women; the high rate of business taxes in the state; the impact of right to work; service-related industries; unemployed workers using their skill sets for a career change; the economic outlook in Lafayette; the timeline for the recovery of the oil and gas industries; programs for retraining workers; and encouraging out-of-state contractors to hire Louisiana workers.