Staff Report
There were 2,936 fewer people in the Tri-Parish work force in January compared to January 2016, according to Bureau of Labor and Statistics released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The work force for St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes totaled 67,297 in January, down from 70,233 a year ago in January.
The work force count includes the employed and those seeking a job counted by the bureau.
Unemployment rates declined from a year ago. January unemployment rates for the parishes are:
— 7.9 percent in St. Landry Parish, down from 8.4 percent in January 2016;
— 7.3 percent in Acadia Parish, down from 7.5 percent in January 2016; and
— 7.2 percent in Evangeline Parish, down from 7.7 percent in January 2016.
From December to January, unemployment rates in the three parishes rose.
In December, St. Landry Parish’s rate was 7.1 percent; Evangeline Parish was 6.5 percent; and Acadia Parish was 6.6 percent.
The total work force in each parish declined compared to a January 2016.
St. Landry Parish’s work force was 31,471 in January, down from 32,739 a year ago — a 3.9 percent decline.
Evangeline Parish’s work force was 12,252 in January, down from 12,675 a year ago — a 3.3 percent decline.
Acadia Parish’s work force as 23,574 in January, down from 24,819 a year ago — a 5 percent decline.
The parish job statistics are not seasonally adjusted in the report released Tuesday.
In seasonally adjusted rates, the state’s unemployment rate in January was 5.9 percent, down from 6.2 percent in January 2016. The January rate also was down from 6 percent in December.
The state’s seasonally-adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 6,000 jobs over the month. The seasonally-adjusted total nonfarm jobs decreased by 7,500 jobs over the year. Seasonally-adjusted private sector employment was 1,650,700 in January 2017, up by 4,800 jobs over the month. This number is down 5,200 jobs over the year.
In key sectors, some industries showed improvement over the month.
— Construction gained 7,600 jobs over the month and 9,900 jobs for the year.
— Education and health services gained 1,800 jobs over the month and 7,500 jobs for the year
— Government gained 1,200 jobs over the month but lost 2,300 jobs over the year.
January 2017 data shows that the mining and logging sector, which includes oil and gas, gained 200 jobs for the month but was down 7,400 jobs for the year. Other sectors showed the following results.
— Manufacturing gained 2,000 jobs for the month, but was down 3,900 jobs on the year.
— Financial activities remained unchanged for the month, but lost 200 jobs over the year.
— Professional and business services, which include companies that provide services and other necessities for oil-related businesses, lost 1,800 jobs for the month, and 1,400 jobs on the year.
The January 2017 seasonally-adjusted civilian labor force (people employed as well as those who are unemployed but looking for a job) in Louisiana showed a loss of 856 over the month and 41,197 individuals over the year. Not seasonally-adjusted civilian labor force are down 10,248 over the month and 37,658 people over the year.
New benchmarked data shows that the average number of seasonally-adjusted nonfarm jobs in 2016 was 1,971,500, which was 4,600 fewer than previously estimated. The average not seasonally-adjusted nonfarm jobs in 2016 was 1,971,300.
Benchmarking is the BLS’s adjustments to prior years’ data. During this procedure, survey data, used to prepare monthly reports on nonfarm employment, the labor force and unemployment rates is replaced by the actual employment data contained in the quarterly wage and tax reports filed by Louisiana employers.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Ava Dejoie said, “These gains show the state is moving in the right direction and I’m confident we will continue on this successful track for 2017.”
Not seasonally-adjusted nonfarm data showed Louisiana’s total nonfarm jobs dropped by 27,600 jobs over-the-month and 13,000 jobs over the year. Private sector employment dropped by 22,200 jobs over the month and 10,200 jobs over the year.
Among Louisiana’s metropolitan statistical areas, seasonally-adjusted data showed:
— Alexandria gained 900 jobs over the month and lost 400 jobs over the year.
— Baton Rouge gained 4,100 jobs over the month and gained 1,300 jobs over the year.
— Houma lost 200 jobs over the month and 6,000 jobs over the year.
— Lafayette gained 900 jobs over the month and lost 9,000 jobs over the year.
— Lake Charles gained 700 jobs over the month and 5,600 jobs over the year.
— Monroe lost 300 jobs over the month and gained 200 jobs over the year.
— New Orleans lost 1,400 jobs over the month and gained 300 jobs over the year.
— Shreveport gained 100 jobs over the month and lost 2,900 jobs over the year.
The bureau does not report seasonally-adjusted data for Hammond, due to the fact that it is a recent designated MSA, and has not yet had time to acquire seasonally-adjusted data for the area.
— Hammond lost 800 jobs over the month and gained 800 jobs over the year.
Seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation while not-seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparison to the state.