Harlan Kirgan
Unemployment rates in the Tri-Parish area showed improvement in May, according to information from the Bureau of Labor & Statistics and release by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
St. Landry Parish’s unemployment rate in May was 7.2 percent, down from 7.9 percent in April 2016 and from 7.3 percent in April.
Evangeline Parish’s May unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, down from 7 percent in May 2016 and below April’s 6.4 percent.
Acadia Parish’s unemployment rate in May was 6.4 percent, down from 7.4 percent in May 2016 and 6.5 percent in April.
The statistics released Friday are not adjusted for seasonal factors such as weather and holidays.
The Tri-Parish workforce remains below what it was a year ago. The total workforce, those employed and those looking for work, was 69,049 for St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes, down 2 percent from the 2016 workforce of 70,545.
Acadia Parish’ May workforce totaled 24,180 compared to 24,754 in May 2016.
St. Landry Parish’s May workforce was 32,226, down from 33,004 in May 2016.
Evangeline Parish’s workforce in May was 12,643, down from 12,787 in May 2016.
In the state, the not-seasonally adjusted employment rate for May decreased 0.1 percentage points to 5.5 percent. The figure is down 0.4 percentage points from the May 2016 unemployment rate of 5.9 percent.
The number of not-seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals also decreased by 2,582, to 116,001. This number is down 8,824 as compared to the May 2016 figure of 124,825.
Total nonfarm jobs increased by 12,300 from April. This brings the new total for May to 1,987,100. This figure represents the largest over the month gain for the month of May since 2006. Additionally, 6,300 jobs were added over the year.
When looking at not seasonally adjusted figures for total private employment, 11,100 jobs were added over the month, for a new total of 1,660,500. About 10,000 jobs have been added since May 2016.
Ava Dejoie, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said, “We are encouraged by the steady employment growth reported across our great state, and the undoubted confidence being restored in the thousands of residents who are getting back to work. These figures signify a thriving future for Louisiana’s economy.”
Ava Dejoie, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said, “We are encouraged by the steady employment growth reported across our great state, and the undoubted confidence being restored in the thousands of residents who are getting back to work. These figures signify a thriving future for Louisiana’s economy.”
The not-seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, decreased by 13,142 over the month to 2,103,477.
Eight of the nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) saw a decrease in their unemployment rate over the year. Notseasonally adjusted May unemployment rates, over-the-month job gains and over-the-year nonfarm job change totals for the nine MSAs are as follows:
• Alexandria: 6.2 percent, up from 6.1 percent in April and up from 6 percent from May 2016. The MSA lost 100 jobs for the month and 900 over the year.
• Baton Rouge: 4.7 percent, down from 4.8 percent in April and down from 5 percent from May 2016. The MSA lost 1,300 jobs over the month, but is up 1,900 over the year.
• Hammond: 6.1 percent, down from 6.2 percent in April and down from 6.4 percent from May 2016. The MSA gained 300 jobs over the month and 600 over the year.
• Houma: 6 percent, down from 6.3 percent in April and down from 6.6 percent from May 2016. The MSA gained 200 jobs over the month, but is down 4,200 over the year.
• Lafayette: 6.2 percent down from 6.3 percent in April and down from 7.1 percent from May 2016. The MSA gained 800 jobs over the month, but is down 2,400 over the year.
• Lake Charles: 4.3 percent, unchanged from April, but down from 4.6 percent from May 2016. The MSA gained 1,500 jobs over the month and 5,400 over the year. The Lake Charles MSA continues its series high for nonfarm employment.
• Monroe: 5.7 percent, down from 5.8 percent in April and down from 6 percent from May 2016. The MSA remained unchanged over the month, but is up 400 over the year.
• New Orleans: 5.1 percent, unchanged from April, but down from 5.3 percent from May 2016. The MSA gained 500 jobs over the month, but is down 1,600 over the year.
• Shreveport: 6 percent, unchanged from April, but down from 6.1 percent from May 2016. The MSA gained 400 jobs over the month, but is down 3,000 over the year.