Preliminary data for October released Friday by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that, since September, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 21,500 jobs from 1,855,700 to 1,877,200. From October 2019, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 105,800 jobs.
Since the height of the pandemic in April, Louisiana seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment has added 154,800 jobs.
Since September, seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 25,100 jobs from 1,528,900 to 1,554,000 in October 2020. From October 2019, seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 96,700 jobs.
Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 9.4%; up from October’s revised seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8%.
Since September, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 16,712 from 1,931,379 to 1,914,667 in October. Compared to October 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 78,655.
Since September, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 30,895 from 167,815 to 198,710 in October. Compared to October 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 89,807.
Among Louisiana’s MSAs in October 2020, seasonally adjusted data shows:
— Alexandria showed no change from September, but lost 2,500 jobs from October 2019.
— Baton Rouge gained 6,900 jobs from September, but lost 15,800 jobs from October 2019.
— Hammond gained 500 jobs from September, but lost 2,100 jobs from October 2019.
— Houma gained 500 jobs from September, but lost 4,500 jobs from October 2019.
— Lafayette lost 100 jobs from September and lost 11,200 jobs from October 2019.
— Lake Charles gained 2,500 jobs from September, but lost 20,200 jobs from October 2019.
— Monroe lost 200 jobs from September, but gained 600 jobs from October 2019.
— New Orleans gained 2,300 jobs from September, but lost 56,300 jobs from October 2019.
— Shreveport gained 300 jobs from September, but lost 9,200 jobs from October 2019.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Since September 2020, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 29,300 jobs from 1,853,400 to 1,882,700 in October 2020. When compared to October 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 112,000 jobs.
Since September 2020, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 28,800 jobs from 1,525,900 to 1,554,700 in October 2020. When compared to October 2019, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 102,800 jobs.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2020 is 9.3 percent, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from September 2020’s revised not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.1 percent.
Since September 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 6,331 from 1,927,373 to 1,921,042 in October 2020. When compared to October 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 81,562.
Since September 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 27,527 from 169,723 to 197,250 in October 2020. When compared to October 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 91,406.
October metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and parish unemployment rates will be released on Dec. 1.