Tri-Parish unemployment rates more than doubled in May compared to those of a year ago, showing the affect of the coronavirus on the job scene, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
St. Landry Parish’s jobless rate in May was 12.8%, up from 5.6% in May 2019 in the not seasonally adjusted statistics.
Not seasonal employment numbers do not take into factors such as holidays, school and weather.
Acadia Parish’s unemployment rate in May was 10.7%, up from 4.8% in May 2019.
Evangeline Parish’s unemployment rate in May was 11.6%, up from 5.2% in May 2019.
The state unemployment rate in May was 13.1%, up from 4.3% in May 2019.
The Tri-Parish workforce decreased by 2.6% from May 2019 to this May. The workforce totaled 65,658 in May compared to 67,397 in May 2019.
The workforce counts those employed and those looking for jobs.
St. Landry Parish’s May workforce was 31,188, down 469 or 1.5% from the 31,657 people counted in the May 2019 workforce.
In Acadia Parish, the May workforce was 23,168, down 626 or 2.6% from the 23,794 people in the May 2019 workforce.
Evangeline Parish’s May workforce totaled 11,302, down 644 or 5.4% from the May 2019 workforce.
The report stated the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the parishes of Lafayette, Acadia, Iberia, St. Martin and Vermilion, had an estimated 185,500 jobs in may, down 20,600 over the year.
Employment by sector:
— Mining and logging lost 300 jobs over the month and 3,500 jobs over the year.
— Construction lost 1,000 jobs over the year.
— Manufacturing lost 1,800 jobs over the year.
— Trade, transportation, and utilities
gained 200 jobs over the month but lost 2,000 jobs over the year. The retail trade subsector gained 300 jobs over the month but lost 700 jobs over the year.
— Financial activities lost 400 jobs over the month and 600 jobs over the year.
— Professional and business services lost 2,700 jobs over the year.
— Education and health services gained 1,100 jobs over the month but lost 2,100 jobs over the year. The health care and social assistance subsector gained 1,300 jobs over the month but lost 1,800 jobs over the year.
— Leisure and hospitality gained 6,800 jobs over the month but lost 4,000 jobs over the year. Food services and drinking places gained 4,600 jobs over the month but lost 4,300 jobs over the year.
Not seasonally adjusted May 2020 unemployment rates for Louisiana’s nine MSAs are as follows:
— Alexandria: 9.2%, up from 4.6% in May 2019, but down from 9.9% from April.
— Baton Rouge: 11.8%, up from 3.9% in May 2019, but down from 13% from April.
— Hammond: 16.1%, up from 4.9%, in May 2019, but down from 17.1%, from April.
— Houma: 10.9%, up from 4.2%, in May 2019, but down from 12.4%, from April.
— Lafayette: 11.6%, up from 4.3%, from May 2019, but down from 13%, from April.
— Lake Charles: 13.1%, up from 3.6%, in May 2019, but down from 14.2%, from April.
— Monroe: 10.8%, up from 4.8%, in May 2019, but down from 11.7%, from April.
— New Orleans: 16.4%, up from 4%, in May 2019, but down from 19%,from April.
— Shreveport: 12.5%, up from 4.6%, in May 2019, but down from 13.1%, from April.
Not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 125,453 from 1,649,341 in April 2020 to 1,774,794 in May 2020. When compared to May 2019, not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 220,846.
The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 13,963 from 280,620 In April 2020 to 266,657 in May 2020. When compared to May 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased 176,888.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 111,490 from 1,929,961 in April 2020 to 2,041,451 in May 2020. From May 2019, the not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force decreased by 43,958.
Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 35,000 jobs from 1,728,900 in April 2020 to 1,763,900 in May 2020. From May 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 237,400 jobs.
Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 42,800 jobs from 1,401,800 in April 2020 to 1,444,600 in May 2020. From May 2019, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 222,400 jobs.