The unemployment rate in Louisiana dropped to 5.9 percent in October, down from 6.7 percent in September, according to not-seasonally-adjusted data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
St. Landry Parish’s unemployment rate in October was 7.8 percent, down from 8.8 percent in September, but up from 7.7 percent in October 2015.
Acadia Parish’s October jobless rate was 7.2 percent, down from 8.2 percent in September, but up from 6.7 percent in October 2015.
Evangeline Parish’s jobless rate in October was 7.1 percent, down from 8.1 percent in September and 7.2 percent in October 2015.
Unemployment rates fell in all nine of the state’s metropolitan statistical areas in October.
Not-seasonally-adjusted data represent a snapshot of employment but are not adjusted for seasonal factors. The Louisiana Workforce Commission released seasonally-adjusted data for the state on Nov. 18.
Not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates for Louisiana’s MSAs in October were as follows:
• Alexandria: 6.1 percent, down from 6.9 percent in September and up from 6 percent in October 2015;
• Baton Rouge: 5 percent, down from 6 percent in September and unchanged from October 2015;
• Hammond: 6.4 percent, down from 7.6 percent in September and down from 6.5 percent in October 2015;
• Houma: 6.3 percent, down from 7.1 percent in September and up from 5.7 percent in October 2015;
• Lafayette: 6.7 percent, down from 7.6 percent in September and up from 6.4 percent in October 2015;
• Lake Charles: 4.7 percent, down from 5.5 percent in September and down from 4.9 percent in October 2015;
• Monroe: 5.9 percent, down from 6.6 percent in September and down from 6.1 percent in October 2015;
• New Orleans: 5.4 percent, down from 6.2 percent in September and down from 5.6 percent in October 2015;
• Shreveport: 6.4 percent, down from 7.1 percent in September and down from 6.5 percent in October 2015.