Staff Report
The Tri-Parish workforce declined by 133 people to 68,743 in April compared to April 2017, according to statistics released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission and compiled by the federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
There were 3,558 people looking for jobs in April in St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes. In April 2017, there were 4,222 people in the job market — a 16 percent change.
St. Landry Parish’s workforce in April was 31,965, which is a 181 person decrease from the April 2017 workforce of 32,146.
Acadia Parish’s workforce in April was 24,136, down six from April 2017’s workforce of 24,142.
Evangeline Parish’s April 2018 workforce was 12,642, up 54 people from 12,588 in April 2017.
The workforce includes the number of people working and those looking for jobs.
The workforce numbers are not seasonally adjusted for such factors as weather and holidays.
The St. Landry Parish unemployment rate in April was 5.6 percent, down from 6.5 percent in April 2017 and from March’s rate of 5.7 percent. There were 30,187 people working the parish in April, up from 30,052 in April 2017.
The Acadia Parish unemployment rate in April was 4.8 percent, down from 5.8 percent in April 2017 and down from March’s 4.9 percent rate. There were 22,988 people working in April, which was up from 22,738 in April 2017.
The Evangeline Parish April unemployment rate was 5 percent, down from 5.8 percent in April 2017 and unchanged from March. There were 12,010 people working in the parish in April, up from 11,864 in April 2017.
In the state, nonfarm employment increased by 22,800 jobs from April 2017. This is the seventh straight over-the-year increase. From March 2018, the number of nonfarm jobs increased by 17,800 to 1,997,100.
Not seasonally adjusted data shows that private sector employment increased by 26,100 jobs from April 2017. Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment has also added jobs over the year for the seventh straight month. From March 2018, the not seasonally adjusted private sector increased by 15,900 jobs to 1,668,200.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, compared to last year, has decreased by 0.7 percentage points from April 2017. From March 2018, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent.
From April 2017, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 45,184. This over the year increase marks the 11th consecutive time this has occurred. From March 2018, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 4,026 to 2,048,885. Not seasonally adjusted employment has had three straight over-the-month gains. This is the highest level of employed individuals for the month of April, and this is the third highest employment level in series history.
The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 13,811 from April 2017. From March 2018, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 456 to 92,204.
The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, increased by 31,373 from April 2017. There have been six straight over-the-year increases. From March 2018, the not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased by 3,570 to 2,141,089. This makes four straight over the month gains.
Ava Dejoie, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said, “Louisiana’s economy is adding jobs at an unprecedented rate as we continue to see job gains and improvement across a variety of sectors.”
Dejoie added, “More than 47,000 people are now employed when compared to April of last year. What Governor John Bel Edwards and his administration have accomplished is working, and the people, businesses and communities of our state are reaping the benefits.”
All nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) declined over the year. Not seasonally adjusted April unemployment rates for the nine MSAs are as follows:
— Alexandria: 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent in March and down from 5.6 percent from April 2017.
— Baton Rouge: 3.8 percent, unchanged from 3.8 percent in March, but down from 4.4 percent from April 2017.
— Hammond: 4.7 percent, up from 4.6 percent in March, but down from 5.5 percent from April 2017.
— Houma: 4.5 percent, up from 4.4 percent in March, but down from 5.6 percent from April 2017.
— Lafayette: 4.5 percent, down from 4.6 percent in March and down from 5.6 percent from April 2017.
— Lake Charles: 3.3 percent, unchanged from 3.3 percent in March, but down from 3.8 percent from April 2017.
— Monroe: 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent in March and down from 5.2 percent from April 2017.
— New Orleans: 4 percent, unchanged from 4 percent in March, but down from 4.6 percent from April 2017.
— Shreveport: 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent March and down from 5.4 percent from April 2017.