The Eunice News Staff Report
The Tri-Parish employment pictured brightened in March with jobless rates declining, according to federal data released Friday by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The unemployment numbers are not adjusted for seasonal factors.
The state’s jobless rate was 5.4 percent, down from 6 percent a year ago in March.
March Tri-Parish unemployment numbers were:
— St. Landry Parish, 7.1 percent, down from 7.3 percent in February and 8 percent in March 2016.
— Acadia Parish, 6. 5 percent, unchanged from February and down from 7.3 percent in March 2016.
— Evangeline Parish, 6.1 percent, down from 6.3 percent in February and from 7.5 percent in March 2016.
The three-parish workforce in March totaled 64,101, up 1.8 percent from February’s 63,229. The workforce was down 1.8 percent from 65,280 in March 2016.
The March workforce by parish was:
— St. Landry Parish, 29,822, down from 30,451 in March 2016.
— Acadia Parish, 22,445, up from 23,923 in March 2016.
— Evangeline Parish, 11,834, up from 11,806 in March 2016.
The March seasonally-adjusted report for Louisiana was released on April 24 and showed an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent.
Louisiana’s civilian labor force – people employed and unemployed but seeking a job – grew during March. The not-seasonally-adjusted report showed the state’s labor force increased by 20,562 people over the month but is down 15,045 over the year.
Unemployment rates declined over the year in all of the state’s nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSA). Not-seasonally-adjusted March unemployment rates and over-the-year nonfarm job change totals for the nine MSAs are as follows:
• Alexandria: 5.9 percent, down from 6 percent in February and down from 6.1 percent in March 2016. The MSA lost 100 jobs for the month and 600 over the year.
• Baton Rouge: 4.6 percent, unchanged from February but down from 5.0 percent in March 2016. The MSA gained 500 jobs over the month and 2,600 over the year.
• Hammond: 6 percent, up from 5.9 percent in February but down from 6.6 percent from March 2016. The MSA added 300 jobs over the month and 1,000 over the year.
• Houma: 6.2 percent, unchanged from February but down from 6.7 percent from March 2016. The MSA lost 600 jobs over the month and down 5,200 over the year.
• Lafayette: 6.3 percent, unchanged from February but down from 7.1 percent from March 2016. The MSA remained unchanged for the month but is down 6,500 over the year.
• Lake Charles: 4.1 percent, down from 4.2 percent in February and down from 4.8 percent in March 2016. The MSA gained 500 jobs over the month and 4,900 over the year.
• Monroe: 5.6 percent, down from 5.7 percent in February and down from 6.1 percent in March 2016. The MSA remained unchanged over the month but gained 100 over the year.
• New Orleans: 4.9 percent, unchanged from February but down from 5.5 percent in March 2016. The MSA gained 900 jobs over the month and 1,000 jobs over the year.
• Shreveport: 5.8 percent, unchanged from February but down from 6.3 percent in March 2016. The MSA lost 100 jobs over the month and 3,100 over the year.