Staff Report
The Tri-Parish workforce rose by 203 in October compared to October 2018, according to a monthly report from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics released Monday.
The workforce for St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes in October totaled 67,788, up 0.3% from October 2018.
The workforce count includes both those employed and those seeking a job.
The employment statistics released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission are not adjusted for season factors such as weather and holidays.
The St. Landry Parish workforce in October was 31,782, up 153 or 4.2% from October 2018.
The Evangeline Parish workforce in October was 12,023, down 28 or 0.2% from October 2018.
In Acadia Parish, the October workforce was 24,011, up 78 or up 0.3% from October 2018.
October unemployment rates were:
— St. Landry Parish, 6.2%, up from 5.9% in October 2018 and up from 5.9% in September.
— Acadia Parish, 5.3%, up from 5% in October 2018 and up from 5.1% in September.
— Evangeline Parish, 5.7%, up from 5.3% in October 2018 and up from 5.5% in September.
The state not seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 4.7%, up from 4.6% in October 2018 and up from 4.5% in September.
The national unemployment rate in October was 3.3%, down from 3.5% in October 2018.
In Louisiana, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment gained 4,100 jobs from 1,998,200 in October 2018 to 2,002,300 in October. From September, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 12,400 jobs.
Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment gained 5,900 jobs from 1,666,100 in October 2018 to 1,672,000 in October. From September, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 8,800 jobs.
The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, increased by 7,473 from 2,095,218 in September to 2,102,691 in October.
The number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 3,584 from 2,000,060 in September to 2,003,644 in October.
Not-seasonally adjusted October unemployment rates for the nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are as follows:
— Alexandria: 5%, unchanged from 5% in September, but down from 5.1% from October 2018.
— Baton Rouge: 4.3 percent, up from 4.2 percent in September, and up from 4.2 percent from October 2018.
— Hammond: 5.2%, up from 5.1% in September, and up from 5.1% from October 2018.
— Houma: 4.6%, up from 4.4% in September, but unchanged from 4.6% from October 2018.
— Lafayette: 4.6%, up from 4.5% in September, but unchanged from 4.6% from October 2018.
— Lake Charles: 3.8%, unchanged from 3.8% in September, but up from 3.5% from October 2018.
— Monroe: 5.4%, up from 5.1% in September and up from 5.1% from October 2018.
— New Orleans: 4.4%, up from 4.2% in September, but unchanged from 4.4% from October 2018.
— Shreveport: 5.2%, up from 4.9% in September, and up from 5% from October 2018.