Harlan Kirgan
Tri-Parish unemployment rates in April improved from those a year ago, but the area’s workforce continues to be be below 2016 levels.
According to a report by the Louisiana Workforce Commission on April’s job numbers:
— St. Landry Parish’s jobless rate was 7.3 percent, down from 7.7 percent in April 2016, but up from 7.1 percent in March.
— Acadia Parish’s jobless rate was 6.5 percent, down from 7.1 percent in April 2016, and unchanged from March.
— Evangeline Parish’s jobless rate was 6.4 percent, down from 6.9 percent in April 2016, and up from 6.1 percent in March.
The job numbers are no adjusted for seasonal factors such as weather.
The Tri-Parish workforce totaled 69,103, down 1.8 percent from 70,361 in April 2016. The total workforce includes those employed and those looking for work.
St. Landry Parish’s total workforce in April was 32,297, down 2 percent from the April 2016 workforce of 32,957.
Acadia Parish’s total workforce in April was 24,153, down 2 percent from April 2016’s workforce of 24,638.
Evangeline Parish’s April workforce was 12,653, down 0.9 percent from 12,766 in April 2016.
The state’s civilian workforce increased by 5,797 people over the month to 2,117,468.
Ava Dejoie, Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director, said, “Although Louisiana’s not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly, increases in the civilian labor force and monthly job gains in Lafayette and Houma are early positive indicators of continued job growth.”
The non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in April was 5.6 percent, down from 5.7 percent in April 2016, but up from March’s 5.4 percent.
All of the state’s nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) saw an increase of nonfarm jobs over the month. Lake Charles nonfarm employment is also at a series high. Not-seasonally-adjusted April over-the-month job gains, over-the-year nonfarm job change totals and unemployment rates for the nine (MSAs) are as follows:
— Alexandria: The MSA gained 200 jobs for the month, but is down 800 over the year. 6.1 percent, up from 5.9 percent in March and up from 5.6 percent from April 2016.
— Baton Rouge: The MSA gained 300 jobs over the month and 900 over the year. 4.8 percent, up from 4.6 percent in March and up from 4.7 percent from April 2016.
— Hammond: The MSA gained 100 jobs over the month and 600 over the year. 6.2 percent, up from 5.9 percent in March, but down from 6.3 percent from April 2016.
— Houma: The MSA gained 400 jobs over the month, but is down 4,400 over the year. 6.2 percent, unchanged from March, but down from 6.3 percent from April 2016.
— Lafayette: The MSA gained 1,900 jobs over the month, but is down 3,100 over the year. 6.3 percent, unchanged from March, but down from 6.9 percent from April 2016.
— Lake Charles: The MSA gained 1,100 jobs over the month and 5,800 over the year. 4.3 percent, up from 4.1 percent in March, but down from 4.5 percent from April 2016.
— Monroe: The MSA gained 200 jobs over the month and 100 over the year. 5.8 percent, up from 5.6 percent in March and up from 5.7 percent from April 2016.
— New Orleans: The MSA gained 1,400 jobs over the month, but is down 1,000 jobs over the year. 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in March, but unchanged from April 2016.
— Shreveport: The MSA gained 100 jobs over the month, but is down 2,600 over the year. 6 percent, up from 5.8 percent in March, but unchanged from April 2016.