Staff Report
The Tri-Parish employment situation improved in August with jobless rates declining and the workforce growing every so slightly, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The Tri-Parish total workforce in August was 68,452, up 395 or 0.6% from August 2019, according to the not seasonally adjusted employment statistics. Not seasonally adjusted employment statistics do not include factors such as weather and holidays.
The workforce includes those employed and those looking for jobs.
St. Landry Parish’s workforce in August was 32,476, up 294 or 0.9% from August 2019.
Acadia Parish’s workforce in August was 24,128, up 63 or 0.3% from August 2019.
Evangeline Parish’s workforce in August was 11,848, up 38 or 0.3% from August 2019.
Tri-Parish unemployment rates in August were:
— St. Landry Parish, 8.9%, down from 10.4% in July, but up from 6.8% in August 2019;
— Acadia Parish, 7.2%, down from 8.6% in July, and up from 5.8% in August 2019; and
— Evangeline Parish, 8.2%, down from 10% in July, and up from 6.8% in August 2019.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August decreased to 8.1%, down 1.9 percentage points from July’s revised not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 10%.
Since July, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 101,158 from 1,835,539 to 1,936,697 in August. When compared to August 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 48,083.
Since July, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 33,297 from 203,076 to 169,779 in August. When compared to August 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 57,353.
Since July, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 23,100 jobs from 1,822,300 to 1,845,400 in August. When compared to August 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 133,900 jobs.
Since July, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 13,100 jobs from 1,508,600 to 1,521,700 in August. When compared to August 2019, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 134,400 jobs.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 67,861 from 2,038,615 in July to 2,106,476 in August. When compared to August 2019, Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased by 9,270.
Not seasonally adjusted August unemployment rates for Louisiana’s nine MSAs are as follows:
— Alexandria: 6.1%, up from 5.8% in August 2019, but down from 7.4% in July.
— Baton Rouge: 7.1%, up from 5% in August 2019, but down from 9.2% in July.
— Hammond: 9.7%, up from 6.1% in August 2019, but down from 12.1% in July.
— Houma: 6.8%, up from 4.9% in August 2019, but down from 8.5% in July.
— Lafayette: 7.4%, up from 5.2% in August 2019, but down from 9.1% in July.
— Lake Charles: 8%, up from 4.5% in August 2019, but down from 9.9% in July.
— Monroe: 6.9%, up from 5.9% in August 2019, but down from 8.3% in July.
— New Orleans: 9.7%, up from 5% in August 2019, but down from 11.9% in July.
— Shreveport: 7.8%, up from 5.6% in August 2019, but down from 9.4% in July.