Tri-Parish jobless rates down in October

Unemployment rates in October were down from September and dramatically below those a year ago, according to statistics released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
But the Tri-Parish October workforce count was below the October 2020 number.
The October unemployment rates by parish were:
St. Landry – 4.9%, down from 5.4% in September and down from 7.9% in October 2020.
Acadia – 3.8%, down from 4.2% in September and 6.4% in October 2020.
The state unemployment rate in October was 4.3%, down from 4.9% in September and down from 7.5% in October 2020.
Unemployment rate in all nine of Louisiana’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA’s) decreased over the year for the seventh consecutive month. Among the MSA’s, Lake Charles showed the largest unemployment rate decline from October 2020, dropping by 5.7 percentage points.
The employment numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
The Tri-Parish workforce in October totaled 67,494, down from 68,360 in October 2020.
The workforce includes people working and those looking for a job.
By parish, the October workforce count was:
• St. Landry, 31,959, down 2.5% from the 32,779 count in October 2020.
• Acadia, 23,349, down 1% from the 23,586 total in October 2020.
• Evangeline, 12,186, up 1.6% from the 11,995 in October 2020.
The number of people working in October by parish was: 30,394, St. Landry; 22,468, Acadia; and 11,687 Evangeline.
In the state, since October 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 39,119 from 1,936,242 to 1,975,361 in October. This is the seventh consecutive month with an over-the-year gain. When compared to September, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 24,264.
Since October 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 67,753 from 156,155 to 88,402 in October. This is the seventh consecutive month with an over-the-year decrease in the number of unemployed. When compared to September, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 13,040.
The October not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people employed or looking for work, is 2,063,763, a decrease of 28,634 from the October 2020 figure of 2,092,397. The series added 11,224 individuals from the September 2021 revised figure of 2,052,539.
Not seasonally adjusted October unemployment rates for Louisiana’s nine MSA’s are as follows:
• Alexandria: 3.2%, down from 3.4% in September and down from 5.3% in October 2020.
• Baton Rouge: 3.7%, down from 4.2% in September and down from 6.4% in October 2020.
• Hammond: 5%, down from 6% in September and down from 8.1% in October 2020.
• Houma: 4.5%, down from 5.8% in September and down from 6.3% in October 2020.
• Lafayette: 3.8%, down from 4.3% in September and down from 6.7% in October 2020.
• Lake Charles: 4.2%, down from 4.7% in September and down from 9.9% in October 2020.
• Monroe: 3.7%, down from 4.1% in September and down from 6.4% in October 2020.
• New Orleans: 5.1%, down from 6.2% in September and down from 9.1% in October 2020.
• Shreveport: 4.2%, down from 4.6% in September and down from 7.3% in October 2020.
Since October 2020, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 41,000 jobs from 1,827,100 to 1,868,100 in October. When compared to September, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 52,500 jobs primarily due to Hurricane Ida recovery.
Since October 2020, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 44,200 from 1,510,500 to 1,554,700 in October. When compared to September, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 51,100 jobs.
Industries that showed the largest gains for not seasonally adjusted jobs from September:
• Leisure and Hospitality gained 13,000 jobs.
• Construction gained 9,800 jobs.
• Professional and Business Services gained 8,800 jobs.
• Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 6,800 jobs.
• Industries that showed the largest gains for not seasonally adjusted jobs from October 2020:
• Leisure and Hospitality gained 14,700 jobs.
• Professional and Business Services gained 10,800 jobs.
• Education and Health Services gained 8,200 jobs.