Our Views: Energy leads job growth

05 13, 2013 by The Advocate

At last, with stronger job growth in April and continued development of new energy resources, the American economy is showing signs of a stronger recovery.

If the recovery still does not provide an explosive level of job growth, and too many remain out of work, the positive signals are welcome: Payrolls were up by 165,000 jobs in April, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Louisiana continues to have a lower unemployment rate than the nation and we hope that will continue. Energy, of course, provides employment and income to our state. Oil imports are at a 17-year low. We have seen no reason to question the consensus that hydraulic fracturing — fracking — is an economic boon and not an environmental threat. And while low natural gas prices may not last forever, the new fields are significant sources of energy for the nation for decades to come.

That’s good news, and like the Mississippi, let it roll on.

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