The Eunice News Staff Report
Unemployment rates in the Tri-Parish area declined from June and from a year ago in July, according to Bureau of Labor and Statistics information released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
St. Landry Parish’s jobless rate in July was 7.4 percent, down from 7.9 percent in June and 8.9 percent in July 2016.
Acadia Parish’s July jobless rate was 6.2 percent, down from 6.6 percent in June and 8 percent in July 2016.
Evangeline Parish’ unemployment rate in July was 6.7 percent, down from 6.9 percent in June and 8.3 percent in July 2016.
The workforce for St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes in July totaled 64,151, down 1.9 percent from July 2016’s workforce of 65,378.
The workforce counts those working and those looking for a job.
In July, there were 29,975 people working in St. Landry Parish, 22,657 working in Acadia Parish and 11,519 working in Evangeline Parish.
In July 2016, there 30,549 people working in St. Landry Parish, 23,005 working in Acadia Parish and 11,824 working in Evangeline Parish.
The three parishes saw declines in the number of people working form June to July.
The count on people working June was 30,086 in St. Landry Parish, 22,770 in Acadia Parish and 11,784 in Evangeline Parish.
The statistics released Friday are not adjusted for seasonal factors such as weather and holidays.
In the state, the not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.3 percentage points from June to 5.6 percent. Additionally, the not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Louisiana declined 1 percent from July 2016.
Ava Dejoie, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. said, “These numbers are a clear indication that Louisiana’s employment outlook is gradually improving. We hope to continue on this positive trajectory until all eligible jobseekers are paired up with available job opportunities.”
Not-seasonally adjusted July unemployment rates, over-the-year nonfarm job changes and over-the-month job gain totals for the nine MSAs are as follows:
— Alexandria: 6.2 percent, down from 6.8 percent from July 2016 and down from 6.5 percent in June. The MSA lost 700 jobs from July 2016 and 500 from June 2017.
— Baton Rouge: 5 percent, down from 5.7 percent from July 2016 and down from 5.2 percent in June. The MSA gained 3,600 jobs from July 2016, but is down 2,700 jobs from June. The Baton Rouge MSA has had seven straight over-the-year increases.
— Hammond: 6.5 percent, down from 7.4 percent from July 2016 and down from 6.8 percent in June. The MSA gained 800 jobs from July 2016, but is down 400 from June. The Hammond MSA has had over-the-year gains for 36 consecutive months.
— Houma: 5.7 percent, down from 7.2 percent from July 2016 and down from 6.0 percent in June. The MSA lost 2,800 jobs from July 2016 and 300 from June 2017.
— Lafayette: 6 percent, down from 7.6 percent from July 2016 and down from 6.3 percent in June. The MSA lost 1,700 jobs from July 2016 and 1,200 from June 2017.
— Lake Charles: 4.3 percent, down from 5.1 percent from July 2016 and down from 4.5 percent in June. The MSA gained 5,700 jobs from July 2016 and 300 from June 2017. The Lake Charles MSA continues its series high for nonfarm employment, and has had over-the-year increases for 73 consecutive months.
— Monroe: 5.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent from July 2016 and down from 5.8 percent in June. The MSA gained 1,200 jobs from July 2016, but is down 500 from June. The Monroe MSA has had eight straight over-the-year increases.
— New Orleans: 5.3 percent, down from 6.1 percent from July 2016 and down from 5.5 percent in June. The MSA gained 2,200 jobs from July 2016, but is down 7,200 jobs from June.
— Shreveport: 6 percent, down from 7.0 percent from July 2016 and down from 6.3 percent in June. The MSA lost 1,900 jobs from July 2016 and 1,200 from June.
From July 2016, total not-seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased 19,100 to 1,974,600. This is the third consecutive over-the-year increase for nonfarm jobs. From the June figure of 1,990,000, total not-seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs decreased by 15,400.
Total not-seasonally adjusted private-sector jobs increased by 21,900 from July 2016 to 1,665,000. This is also the third consecutive over-the-year increase for private-sector jobs. When compared to the June 2017 figure of 1,668,400, total not-seasonally adjusted private sector jobs decreased by approximately 3,400.
Not seasonally adjusted data shows that the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 23,813 from July 2016 to 118,702. Not-seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals also saw a decrease of 6,039 from the June figure of 124,741. Not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased approximately 4,347 from June 2017 to 1,993,395.
The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, decreased by 10,386 from June to 2,112,097.