The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February of 7.6% remained unchanged from January and is the lowest rate since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Preliminary data for February released Friday by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment rose by 3,400 jobs from January to 1,838,300. Nonfarm employment is down 155,200 jobs from February 2020.
Since January, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 6,704 from 1,925,840 to 1,919,136 in February. From February 2020, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 120,275.
Since January, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 1,290 from 158,490 to 157,200 in February. From February 2020, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 45,104.
The civilian labor force, or the number of people employed or looking for work, is 2,076,336, a loss of 7,994 from January. The series is down 75,171 individuals from the February 2020 figure of 2,151,507.
Seasonally adjusted total private employment rose by 4,300 jobs from January to 1,522,400. Total private employment is down 140,000 jobs from the February 2020 figure of 1,662,400.
Industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs for February:
— Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 2,900 jobs from January.
— Professional and Business Services gained 2,400 jobs from January.
— Leisure and Hospitality gained 2,200 jobs from January.
Among Louisiana’s MSAs in February, seasonally adjusted data shows:
— Alexandria (59,900 jobs) showed no change from January, but lost 1,700 jobs from February 2020.
— Baton Rouge (389,000 jobs) gained 300 jobs from January, but lost 20,200 jobs from February 2020.
— Hammond (45,500 jobs) lost 100 jobs from January and lost 1,400 jobs from February 2020.
— Houma (81,600 jobs) gained 100 jobs from January, but lost 5,800 jobs from February 2020.
— Lafayette (188,300 jobs) lost 300 jobs from January and lost 17,900 jobs from February 2020.
— Lake Charles (92,100 jobs) gained 600 jobs from January, but lost 19,200 jobs from February 2020.
— Monroe (73,200 jobs) lost 1,000 jobs from January and lost 4,700 jobs from February 2020.
— New Orleans (526,800 jobs) gained 1,800 jobs from January, but lost 65,800 jobs from February 2020.
— Shreveport (166,000 jobs) lost 100 jobs from January and lost 13,400 jobs from February 2020.