June 2017 Louisiana State Unemployment Data Release
July 31, 2017
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1001 North 23rd Street
Post Office Box 94094
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094
(O) 225-342-3035
(F) 225-342-3743
www.laworks.net
John Bel Edwards, Governor
Ava Dejoie, Executive Director
Office of Public Affairs
NEWS RELEASE
Louisiana unemployment rate at three-year low
BATON ROUGE – Seasonally adjusted data released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that total nonfarm jobs increased by 20,700 since June 2016, for a new total of 1,988,800. In addition, 4,400 jobs have been added since May 2017. This is the largest over-the-month gain for June since 2010. In addition, Louisiana’s unemployment rate dipped to a three-year low, 5.5 percent.
Total seasonally adjusted private-sector jobs gained 22,300 since June 2016, bringing the new seasonally adjusted figure for June 2017 to 1,665,000. Approximately 4,700 jobs were added since May 2017. This is also the largest over-the-month private-sector gain for June since 2010.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Louisiana decreased to 5.5 percent. This is the lowest the unemployment rate has been since February 2014. The decrease marks a 0.2 percentage point decline from the May 2017 figure of 5.7 percent, and is also down 0.7 percentage points from June 2016.
“All signs are pointing to Louisiana’s economy rebounding, while still not what we want it to be, we are making progress. We are putting people to work in family-sustaining careers all across the state,” said Ava Dejoie, Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director. “The positive growing trend reflected in these numbers indicates that we are meeting the challenge of rebuilding Louisiana’s economy and putting people to work in key industry sectors.”
Industries that showed the largest gains in seasonally adjusted jobs:
• Construction gained 4,000 jobs for the month and is up 15,600 jobs for the year.
• Leisure and Hospitality gained 3,700 jobs for the month and is up 4,400 jobs for the year.
• Education and Health Services gained 300 jobs for the month and is up 7,800 jobs for the year.
Among other seasonally adjusted sectors in June:
• Other services, which includes industries engaged in activities such as equipment and machinery repair and services, gained 100 jobs for the month and is up 1,700 jobs for the year.
• Mining and Logging, which includes industries in the oil and gas sector, gained 800 jobs for the month, but is down 2,100 jobs for the year.
The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 6,215, bringing the new total to 114,911. Comparing this figure to June 2016’s total of 131,907, this figure is down 16,996. The number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 4,249, bringing the new total to 1,993,518. When compared to the June 2016 seasonally adjusted figure of 1,990,157, this figure is up 3,361.
The seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, decreased by 10,464, which brings the new total to 2,108,429.
Among Louisiana’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), seasonally adjusted data showed:
• Alexandria gained 300 jobs from May 2017, but is down 400 jobs from June 2016. The Alexandria MSA experienced its first over-the-month increase for June since 2012.
• Baton Rouge lost 300 jobs from May 2017, but is up 2,500 jobs from June 2016. The Baton Rouge MSA had its sixth straight over-the-year increase.
• Houma gained 600 jobs from May 2017, but is down 2,700 jobs from June 2016.
• Lafayette lost 800 jobs from May 2017 and is down 1,700 jobs from June 2016. The Lafayette MSA has added jobs in four out of six months since January 2017. This has not happened since October of 2014.
• Lake Charles gained 1,300 jobs from May 2017 and is up 5,500 jobs from June 2016. The Lake Charles MSA continues its series high for employment.
• Monroe gained 1,000 jobs from May 2017 and is up 1,400 jobs from June 2016. The Monroe MSA has shown nine straight over-the-year increases.
• New Orleans gained 1,500 jobs from May 2017 and is up 3,500 jobs from June 2016. The New Orleans MSA has shown five straight over-the-year gains.
• Shreveport lost 100 jobs from May 2017 and is down 2,000 jobs from June 2016.
The BLS does not report seasonally adjusted data for Hammond, due to the fact that it is a recently designated MSA, and has not yet had time to acquire seasonally adjusted data for the area.
• Hammond lost 100 jobs for the month, but is up 900 jobs over the year.
Not seasonally adjusted MSA and individual parish data for June 2017 will be released on July 28, 2017.
Seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation. Not seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparing them to the state.
To view all available employment data, visit Louisiana’s employment homepage at http://www.laworks.net and select Labor Market Information from the top-right menu. Then, select LOIS (Louisiana Occupational Information System) and select Employment and Wage Data listed under Data Trends. To view the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics for the state, visit http://data.bls.gov/pdq/querytool.jsp?survey=la. For BLS nonfarm employment data, click here: http://data.bls.gov/pdq/querytool.jsp?survey=sm.
Resources for employers and job seekers
Job-seekers can explore careers, apply for top-rated jobs and connect with local training providers using Louisiana Star Jobs, the LWC’s free career tool, at http://www.laworks.net/Stars/. Employers looking for workers should visit Louisiana’s employment homepage at www.laworks.net. Click on HiRE (Helping Individuals Reach Employment) and create an account allowing access to qualified job seekers.
About the Louisiana Workforce Commission
The Louisiana Workforce Commission is an agency of state government that administers programs designed to enhance workforce growth and provide family-sustaining jobs for Louisiana residents. The commission monitors employment, administers unemployment compensation and tax funds, provides training resources for employers and employees and oversees worker compensation benefits. The agency also gathers and supplies information on the labor market and occupational sectors in Louisiana.
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1001 North 23rd Street
Post Office Box 94094
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094
(O) 225-342-3035
(F) 225-342-3743
www.laworks.net
John Bel Edwards, Governor
Ava Dejoie, Executive Director
Office of Public Affairs
NEWS RELEASE
Louisiana unemployment rate at three-year low
BATON ROUGE – Seasonally adjusted data released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that total nonfarm jobs increased by 20,700 since June 2016, for a new total of 1,988,800. In addition, 4,400 jobs have been added since May 2017. This is the largest over-the-month gain for June since 2010. In addition, Louisiana’s unemployment rate dipped to a three-year low, 5.5 percent.
Total seasonally adjusted private-sector jobs gained 22,300 since June 2016, bringing the new seasonally adjusted figure for June 2017 to 1,665,000. Approximately 4,700 jobs were added since May 2017. This is also the largest over-the-month private-sector gain for June since 2010.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Louisiana decreased to 5.5 percent. This is the lowest the unemployment rate has been since February 2014. The decrease marks a 0.2 percentage point decline from the May 2017 figure of 5.7 percent, and is also down 0.7 percentage points from June 2016.
“All signs are pointing to Louisiana’s economy rebounding, while still not what we want it to be, we are making progress. We are putting people to work in family-sustaining careers all across the state,” said Ava Dejoie, Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director. “The positive growing trend reflected in these numbers indicates that we are meeting the challenge of rebuilding Louisiana’s economy and putting people to work in key industry sectors.”
Industries that showed the largest gains in seasonally adjusted jobs:
• Construction gained 4,000 jobs for the month and is up 15,600 jobs for the year.
• Leisure and Hospitality gained 3,700 jobs for the month and is up 4,400 jobs for the year.
• Education and Health Services gained 300 jobs for the month and is up 7,800 jobs for the year.
Among other seasonally adjusted sectors in June:
• Other services, which includes industries engaged in activities such as equipment and machinery repair and services, gained 100 jobs for the month and is up 1,700 jobs for the year.
• Mining and Logging, which includes industries in the oil and gas sector, gained 800 jobs for the month, but is down 2,100 jobs for the year.
The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 6,215, bringing the new total to 114,911. Comparing this figure to June 2016’s total of 131,907, this figure is down 16,996. The number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 4,249, bringing the new total to 1,993,518. When compared to the June 2016 seasonally adjusted figure of 1,990,157, this figure is up 3,361.
The seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, decreased by 10,464, which brings the new total to 2,108,429.
Among Louisiana’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), seasonally adjusted data showed:
• Alexandria gained 300 jobs from May 2017, but is down 400 jobs from June 2016. The Alexandria MSA experienced its first over-the-month increase for June since 2012.
• Baton Rouge lost 300 jobs from May 2017, but is up 2,500 jobs from June 2016. The Baton Rouge MSA had its sixth straight over-the-year increase.
• Houma gained 600 jobs from May 2017, but is down 2,700 jobs from June 2016.
• Lafayette lost 800 jobs from May 2017 and is down 1,700 jobs from June 2016. The Lafayette MSA has added jobs in four out of six months since January 2017. This has not happened since October of 2014.
• Lake Charles gained 1,300 jobs from May 2017 and is up 5,500 jobs from June 2016. The Lake Charles MSA continues its series high for employment.
• Monroe gained 1,000 jobs from May 2017 and is up 1,400 jobs from June 2016. The Monroe MSA has shown nine straight over-the-year increases.
• New Orleans gained 1,500 jobs from May 2017 and is up 3,500 jobs from June 2016. The New Orleans MSA has shown five straight over-the-year gains.
• Shreveport lost 100 jobs from May 2017 and is down 2,000 jobs from June 2016.
The BLS does not report seasonally adjusted data for Hammond, due to the fact that it is a recently designated MSA, and has not yet had time to acquire seasonally adjusted data for the area.
• Hammond lost 100 jobs for the month, but is up 900 jobs over the year.
Not seasonally adjusted MSA and individual parish data for June 2017 will be released on July 28, 2017.
Seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation. Not seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparing them to the state.
To view all available employment data, visit Louisiana’s employment homepage at http://www.laworks.net and select Labor Market Information from the top-right menu. Then, select LOIS (Louisiana Occupational Information System) and select Employment and Wage Data listed under Data Trends. To view the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics for the state, visit http://data.bls.gov/pdq/querytool.jsp?survey=la. For BLS nonfarm employment data, click here: http://data.bls.gov/pdq/querytool.jsp?survey=sm.
Resources for employers and job seekers
Job-seekers can explore careers, apply for top-rated jobs and connect with local training providers using Louisiana Star Jobs, the LWC’s free career tool, at http://www.laworks.net/Stars/. Employers looking for workers should visit Louisiana’s employment homepage at www.laworks.net. Click on HiRE (Helping Individuals Reach Employment) and create an account allowing access to qualified job seekers.
About the Louisiana Workforce Commission
The Louisiana Workforce Commission is an agency of state government that administers programs designed to enhance workforce growth and provide family-sustaining jobs for Louisiana residents. The commission monitors employment, administers unemployment compensation and tax funds, provides training resources for employers and employees and oversees worker compensation benefits. The agency also gathers and supplies information on the labor market and occupational sectors in Louisiana.
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