Tri-Parish jobless rates down from a year ago

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Tri-Parish jobless rates down from a year ago
Staff Report
Tri-Parish unemployment rates are down from August 2018 and the workforce is nearly unchanged over the year, according to not seasonally adjusted numbers from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
The workforce in St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline totaled 67,896, down 139 from the August 2018 workforce numbering 68,035.
The workforce count includes both those employed and those seeking a job.
In St. Landry Parish, the August workforce totaled 31,942, down 132 from the August 2018 workforce of 32,074.
The Evangeline Parish workforce dropped by 1.2% in August compared to a year ago. The August workforce was 11,827, down from 11,973 a year ago in August.
In Acadia Parish, the August workforce was 24,127, up 139 from the August 2018 workforce of 23,988.
In the state, the workforce decreased 29,011 from 2,119,442 in July to 2,090,431 in August. This decrease is in line with historical trends during this time frame which on average is a net decrease of 25,403, the Louisiana Workforce Commission news release stated.
August unemployment rates by parish were:
— St. Landry Parish, 6.2%, down from 6.7% in August 2018 and down from 6.6% in July.
— Acadia Parish, 5.3%, down from 5.8% in August 2018 and down from 5.5% in July.
— Evangeline Parish, 6.2%, down from 6.3% in August 2018 and down from 6.8% in July.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points from 5.4% in August 2018 to 4.9% in August. From July, Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.3 percentage points.
In the state, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 11,734 from 114,224 in August 2018 to 102,490 in August. From July, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 7,679. The number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 2,249 from 1,985,692 in August 2018 to 1,987,941 this August.
Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 1,500 jobs from 1,978,700 in August 2018 to 1,980,200 in August. From July, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 7,600 jobs.
Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 3,700 jobs from 1,659,900 in August 2018 to 1,663,600 in August. From July, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 4,200 jobs.
All nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) saw a decrease in not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates from July 2019 and August 2018. For the sixth month in a row, all not seasonally adjusted MSA rates declined over the year. Not-seasonally adjusted August unemployment rates for the nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are as follows:
— Alexandria: 5.4%, down from 5.7% in July, and down from 6% from August 2018.
— Baton Rouge: 4.6%, down from 4.8% in July, and down from 4.9% from August 2018.
— Hammond: 5.5%, down from 6.1% in July, and down from 6.1% from August 2018.
— Houma: 4.6%, down from 4.9% in July, and down from 5.3% from August 2018.
— Lafayette: 4.7%, down from 5% in July, and down from 5.3% from August 2018.
— Lake Charles: 4%, down from 4.2% in July, and down from 4.2% from August 2018.
— Monroe: 5.4%, down from 5.6% in July, and down from 5.8% from August 2018.
— New Orleans: 4.5%, down from 4.8% in July, and down from 5.3% from August 2018.
— Shreveport: 5.2%, down from 5.5% in July, and down from 5.8% from August 2018.