Area jobles rates up; Work force expands

An increase in the unemployment rate is being blamed on a growth of the labor force in Louisiana, according data released Tuesday by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The state’s unemployment rate in June was 7 percent, up from 6.6 percent in May. However, the unemployment rate was the same as May 2014’s 7 percent.
The information was included in a news release from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The June jobless rates were:
— 8.3 percent in St. Landry Parish, up from 8.2 percent in June 2014.
— 8.1 percent in Evangeline Parish, up from 7.7 percent in June 2014.
— 7.3 percent in Acadia Parish, up from 6.3 percent in June 2014.
In St. Landry Parish, there were 32,736 people employed and 2,103 people looking for work in June. A year ago in June, there were 32,072 people working and 2,865 people seeking a job.
In Evangeline Parish, there were 12,704 people working and 1,116 people seeking a job in June. A year ago, there were 12,436 people working and 1,042 people seeking employment.
In Acadia Parish, there were 25,965 people working in June and 2,040 people looking for a job. A year ago in June, there were 25,430 people working and 1,720 people looking for work.
Curt Eysink, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said, “Steady jobs growth and record numbers of people available for work are both very encouraging, especially against a backdrop of more people working in Louisiana than ever before.”
A Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of 7,000 employers shows that private employers added 6,600 jobs last month and 20,700 jobs over the year to raise the total number of private sector jobs to 1,673,600, making the June count the third highest in Louisiana history. Total nonfarm employment, made up of both the private and government sectors, rose by 2,100 over the month and 15,100 over the year. Government employment declined by 4,500 jobs, mostly because of seasonal declines in public education for the summer break. Louisiana has gained nonfarm jobs over the year every month since December 2010.
The state’s civilian labor force grew by 22,521 to a record high of 2,233,247 last month with 11,703 more employed individuals and 10,818 more who were not working but were looking for work. The increase in the number of people looking for work resulted in the unemployment rate rising to 7.0 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage points over the month.
Construction posted the largest job increase with 3,700 new jobs in June, according to the not seasonally adjusted data. Professional and business services and other services set records last month with over-the-month increases of 3,300 and 1,500, respectively. The health care employment also set a record while the information sector added 1,100 jobs in June.
Sectors that lost jobs in June included education and health services at 1,600 jobs; and the trade, transportation and utilities and the leisure and hospitality sectors, both down 1,100 jobs; and mining and logging, down 300 jobs.
The Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area continued its streak of strong job growth with 3,300 more private jobs and 1,900 more total nonfarm jobs since May. Last month marks the 54th consecutive month of over-the-year increases in Baton Rouge nonfarm employment with 10,300 more jobs over the year.
Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates rose over the month in all nine Louisiana metro areas as a result of increases in their overall labor forces – a sign of more people entering the workforce, not layoffs.
• Alexandria: 7.3 percent, up from 6.9 percent in May;
• Baton Rouge: 6.2 percent, up from 5.7 percent;
• Hammond: 8 percent, up from 7.4 percent;
• Houma, 6 percent, up from 5.8 percent;
• Lafayette: 6.8 percent, up from 6.5 percent;
• Lake Charles: 5.8 percent, up from 5.6 percent;
• Monroe: 7.5 percent, up from 7.1 percent;
• New Orleans: 6.7 percent, up from 6.3 percent;
• Shreveport: 7.8 percent, up from 7.2 percent.
Not seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparing them to the state. Seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation.