The Eunice News Staff Report
Tri-Parish unemployment rates are down in February compared to a year ago, but the work force is also down, according to Bureau of Labor and Statistics data released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The work force in St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes dropped 1,846 people or 2.9 percent in February compared February 2016. The combined work force was 63,018 in February, down from 64,864 a year ago.
The February Louisiana unemployment rate was 5.4 percent down from 5.8 percent in February 2016.
The numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
In St. Landry Parish, the February jobless rate was 7.3 percent, down from 7.6 percent a year ago. There were 29,345 people working, down from 30,208 working a year ago. The January unemployment rate was 7.9 percent.
In Acadia Parish, the February unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, down from 7 percent a year ago. There were 22,208 people working in February compared to 22,946 a year ago. The jobless rate in January was 7.3 percent.
In Evangeline Parish, the February unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, down from 7.2 percent a year ago. There were 11,465 people working, down from 11,710 a year ago. The January unemployment rate was 7.2 percent.
In Louisiana, seasonally adjusted over-the-month nonfarm jobs rose by 6,700 to 1,982,400 and by 3,000 over the year, according to the latest report. Total private seasonally adjusted over-the-month jobs rose by 7,400 to 1,658,800 and by 5,700 over the year.
The state’s civilian labor force, which includes the total number of people employed plus those looking for work, rose to a seasonally adjusted amount of 2,106,632, an over-the-month gain of 6,999. The number of people employed in the civilian labor force grew to 1,984,950, seasonally adjusted data from a BLS survey of 750 households show. In February, 121,682 people were looking for work – 11,281 less than a year earlier, and 1,428 fewer than in January.
February also marked the largest over-the-month increase in seasonally adjusted employed individuals since September of 1983, which grew by 8,427.
Seasonally adjusted BLS data for February 2017 shows Louisiana’s unemployment rate was 5.8 percent. Down 0.1 percentage points from January, this rate is down 0.4 percentage points from February 2016.
Not seasonally adjusted over-the-month nonfarm jobs also increased by 15,500 to 1,968,800. Total private not seasonally adjusted over-the-month nonfarm jobs gained 11,500 for a new total of 1,642,800.
The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased by 16,808 to 2,090,947. Not seasonally adjusted employed individuals also saw a gain of 29,437 over-the-month, bringing the February total to 1,977,890. This is the highest over-the-month gain since April of 2010.
Industries that showed the largest gains in seasonal adjusted employment;
— Professional and business services gained 5,400 jobs in February and is up 3,100 jobs over the year. This sector includes companies that provide support for oil-related companies.
— Construction gained 2,600 jobs over the month and is up 13,500 jobs over the year.
— Other services which includes industries engaged in activities such as equipment and machinery repair and services gained 1,900 jobs in February and is up 2,500 jobs over the year.
Among other seasonally adjusted sectors in February:
— Mining and Logging which includes industries in the oil & gas sector gained 200 jobs on the month but lost 6,400 over the year. This is the first over-the-month gain since October 2014.
— Education and health services rose 700 jobs for the month. The sector is up 6,900 jobs over the year.
— Trade, transportation and utilities lost 5,000 jobs for the month. The sector is down 7,200 jobs over the year.
— Leisure and Hospitality lost 300 jobs for the month. It is down 2,200 jobs over the year.
Among Louisiana’s nine metropolitan statistical areas, Alexandria was the only area that did not gain jobs for the month. Remaining seasonally-adjusted data for February showed:
— Alexandria showed no change for the month but is down 100 jobs over the year.
— Baton Rouge gained 2,800 jobs for the month and is up 5,300 jobs over the year.
— Houma gained 500 jobs for the month but is down 4,600 jobs over the year.
— Lafayette gained 1,100 jobs over the month but is down 6,700 jobs over the year.
— Lake Charles gained 100 jobs for the month and is up 5,100 jobs over the year.
— Monroe gained 400 jobs for the month and is up 400 jobs over the year.
— New Orleans gained 500 jobs over the month and is up 1,500 jobs over the year.
— Shreveport gained 300 jobs over the month but is down 2,400 jobs over the year.
The BLS 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 gained 300 jobs over the month and is up 900 jobs over the year.
Unemployment rates for February in all nine metropolitan statistical areas over-the-month declined. The over-the-year unemployment rates also declined in every MSA except for Alexandria and Houma. The not-seasonally-adjusted February 2017 unemployment rates for the nine MSAs are as follows:
— Alexandria: 6 percent, down from 6.5 percent in January but up from 5.8 percent in February 2016.
— Baton Rouge: 4.6 percent, down from 5.2 percent in January and down from 4.8 percent in February 2016.
— Hammond: 5.9 percent, down from 6.7 percent in January and down from 6.5 percent in February 2016.
— Houma: 6.2 percent, down from 6.8 percent in January but unchanged from February 2016.
— Lafayette: 6.3 percent, down from 6.9 percent in January and down from 6.8 percent in February 2016.
— Lake Charles: 4.2 percent, down from 4.7 percent in January and down from 4.6 percent in February 2016.
— Monroe: 5.6 percent, down from 6.2 percent in January and down from 6 percent in February 2016.
— New Orleans: 4.8 percent, down from 5.4 percent in January and down from 5.2 percent in February 2016.
— Shreveport: 5.8 percent, down from 6.4 percent in January and down from 6.1 percent in February 2016.
Seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation. Not-seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparing them to the state.