Houma gained 500 jobs in October but remained down 4,500 compared to a year earlier, the latest state figures show.
The metro area, comprised of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, posted a 7.9% unemployment rate in October, up from 6.8% in September and 4.7% a year ago, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The area has lost jobs year-to-year for eight straight months.
The number of people working locally, 83,126, is down 1,488 from February, the month before the COVID-19 pandemic began, along with related state restrictions on business and social activity.
At mid-year, the area was down 4,600 jobs for 2020 as the pandemic and related decline in global oil demand hit Houma-Thibodaux s offshore-oil-based economy hard. The latest figures show the area has regained about 68% of those jobs.