Staff Report
The Tri-Parish workforce in September declined by 2 percent — 1,287 people — from a year ago, according to Bureau of Labor and Statistics data released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The workforce includes those people employed and looking for jobs.
In September, the workforce in St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes totaled 63,408, down from 64,695 in September 2017.
St. Landry Parish’s workforce dropped by 262 people from a year ago. In September, the workforce numbered 31,785 people compared to 32,047 in September 2017.
In Acadia Parish, the September workforce numbered 23,125, down 1.9 percent from September 2017’s workforce of 24,125.
In Evangeline Parish, the September workforce was 11,992, down 5.4 percent from September 2017’s 12,676.
The statistics released Friday are not seasonally adjusted for factors such as weather and holidays.
The state unemployment rate in September was 5 percent, which is unchanged from a year ago.
St. Landry Parish’s September unemployment rate was 6.4 percent, which is unchanged from the rate in September 2017.
Acadia Parish’s September unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, up from 5.7 percent in September 2017.
Evangeline Parish’s September unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, which is up from 5.7 percent in September 2017.
In a September to August comparison, Tri-Parish unemployment rates fell: St. Landry, 6.4 from 6.9 percent. Acadia, 5.5 percent from 6 percent; and Evangeline, 5.8 percent from 6.4 percent.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission reported that September was is the second consecutive month statewide MSA rates have declined over-the-month. Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates are below:
— Alexandria: 5.5 percent, down from 6.1 percent in August, but remained unchanged from September 2017.
— Baton Rouge: 4.5 percent, down from 5 percent in August, but up from 4.3 percent from September 2017.
— Hammond: 5.5 percent, down from 6.1 percent in August, but up from 5.4 percent from September 2017.
— Houma: 5.1 percent, down from 5.4 percent in August and down from 5.2 percent from September 2017.
— Lafayette: 5 percent, down from 5.5 percent in August and down from 5.2 percent from September 2017.
— Lake Charles: 3.8 percent, down from 4.2 percent in August and down from 3.9 percent from September 2017.
— Monroe: 5.4 percent, down from 5.9 percent in August, but up from 5.1 percent from September 2017.
— New Orleans: 4.8 percent, down from 5.3 percent in August, but remained unchanged from September 2017.
— Shreveport: 5.3 percent, down from 5.9 percent in August, but remained unchanged from September 2017.
The state’s not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 16,200 jobs from September 2017 to 1,983,400. This is the 12th straight over the year increase, the commission reported.
From August, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased by 3,800. Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment has increased by 18,600 jobs since September 2017 to 1,659,000. This is also the 12th straight over the year increase, the report stated.
From August, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 12,149.
The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 314 to 105,069 since September 2017.