Harlan Kirgan
The Tri-Parish job picture ended on a down note at the end of year, according to not-seasonally-adjusted data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday.
Unemployment rates were up in St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes in December compared to December 2015.
The number of people with jobs in the Tri-Parish area declined 5.5 percent, according to statistics. In December, the three parishes tallied 63,572 people working, down 3,718 from the 67,290 people working in December 2015.
The state unemployment rate in December was 5.4 percent, up from 5 percent in December 2015. The state unemployment rate also declined from November’s 5.5 percent rate.
In St. Landry Parish, December’s jobless rate was 7.2 percent, up from 6.7 percent in December 2015. There were 29,466 people working in December, down from 30,675 in December 2015.
In Acadia Parish, the December unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, up from 5.8 percent in December 2015. There were 22,642 people working in December, down from 23,831 in December 2015.
In Evangeline Parish, the December unemployment rate was 6.4 percent, up from 6.3 percent in December 2015. There were 11,464 people working in December, down from 11,784 in December 2015.
Not-seasonally-adjusted data represent a snapshot of employment but are not adjusted for seasonal factors.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission released seasonally-adjusted data for the state on Jan. 20.
Not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates for Louisiana’s metro areas in December were as follows:
— Alexandria: 5.9 percent, unchanged from November and up from 5.1 percent in December 2015;
— Baton Rouge: 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent in November and up from 4.1 percent in December 2015;
— Hammond: 6.1 percent, unchanged from November and up from 5.8 percent in December 2015;
— Houma: 5.8 percent, down from 5.9 percent in November and up from 5.1 percent in December 2015;
— Lafayette: 6.1 percent, down from 6.3 percent in November and up from 5.6 percent in December 2015;
— Lake Charles: 4.4 percent, down from 4.5 percent in November and up from 4.2 percent in December 2015;
— Monroe: 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in November and up from 5.1 percent in December 2015;
— New Orleans: 4.8 percent, down from 5.0 percent in November and up from 4.6 percent in December 2015;
— Shreveport: 5.7 percent, down from 6 percent in November and up from 5.4 percent in December 2015.