Unemployment rates in the Tri-Parish area are lower than they were a year ago and the workforce, although down, is stabilizing, according to statistics from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The unemployment rates by parish for March are:
— 5.1 percent in St. Landry Parish, down from 6 percent in March 2018, and down from 5.9 percent in February.
— 4.2 percent in Acadia Parish, down from 5.1 percent in March 2018, and down from 4.8 percent in February.
— 4.7 percent in Evangeline Parish, down from 5.5 percent in March 2018, and 5.3 percent in February.
The total workforce for St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes in March was 67,501, down 651 jobs from March 2018.
The workforce includes people working and looking for jobs.
In St. Landry Parish, the workforce in March was 31,582, down 480 from March 2018.
In Acadia Parish, the workforce in March was 23,884, down 63 from March 2018.
In Evangeline Parish, the workforce in March was 12,035, down 108 from March 2018.
The information released Friday is not adjusted for seasonal factors such as weather and holidays.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points from February 2019 to 3.9 percent. This is the lowest not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate since February 2008.
The over-the-month drop was tied for the seventh largest drop of not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates in the country. Compared to March 2018, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.7 percentage points. The over-the-year drop was tied for the sixth largest drop in the country.
The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 11,409 from February to March. From March 2018, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 16,402 to 80,506. This is the lowest number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals since April 2008.
Not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 14,432 from February to March. From March 2018, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 2,487 to 2,009,895.
The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, increased by 3,023 to 2,090,401 from February to March.
All nine not seasonally adjusted March metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) unemployment rates for Louisiana decreased both over-the-month and over-the-year. 63 out of Louisiana’s 64 parishes saw an over-the-year decline in their not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates. This is the second consecutive month Louisiana’s nine MSAs have declined over-the-month. Not seasonally adjusted March 2019 unemployment rates for the nine MSAs are as follows:
— Alexandria: 4.2 percent, down from 4.8 percent in February and down from 5.1 percent from March 2018.
— Baton Rouge: 3.4 percent, down from 4 percent in February and down from 4 percent from March 2018.
— Hammond: 4.3 percent, down from 5 percent in February and down from 5.1 percent from March 2018.
— Houma: 3.8 percent, down from 4.4 percent in February and down from 4.7 percent from March 2018.
— Lafayette: 3.8 percent, down from 4.4 percent in February and down from 4.8 percent from March 2018.
— Lake Charles: 3.1 percent, down from 3.5 percent in February and down from 3.6 percent from March 2018.
— Monroe: 4.4 percent, down from 5 percent in February and down from 5 percent from March 2018.
— New Orleans: 3.6 percent, down from 4.1 percent in February and down from 4.3 percent from March 2018.
— Shreveport: 4.1 percent, down from 4.7 percent in February and down from 4.9 percent from March 2018.
