Jobless rates above those of a year ago

Tri-parish unemployment rates continue to be above those of a year ago.
St. Landry Parish’s unemployment rate in August was 9 percent, up from 8 percent in August 2015, according not-seasonally adjusted data reported by the federal Bureau of Labor statistics and released Friday.
Not-seasonally-adjusted data represent a snapshot of employment but are not adjusted for seasonal factors.
The number of people working in St. Landry Parish was 30,102 in August, down 1,066 from 31,168 in August a year ago.
The unemployment rate did tick down a notch from July when it was 9.1 percent in St. Landry Parish.
In Acadia Parish, the August unemployment rate was 7.9 percent, up from 7 percent a year ago. Acadia Parish’s workforce was 23,308, down 1,132 from August a year ago.
The jobless rate improved from July when it was 8.2 percent.
In Evangeline Parish, the August unemployment rate was 8.6 percent, up form 7.6 percent a year ago. The number of people working was 11,369, down 1,544 from August 2015.
The jobless rate in July also was 8.6 percent.
Unemployment rates fell over the month in all nine Louisiana metropolitan statistical areas in August.
The not-seasonally-adjusted rate for Louisiana in August was 6.7 percent, down from 6.9 percent in July. The Louisiana Workforce Commission released seasonally-adjusted data for the state on Sept. 20.
Not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates for Louisiana’s MSAs in August were as follows:
— Alexandria: 7 percent, down from 7.2 percent in July and up from 6.6 percent in August 2015;
— Baton Rouge: 5.7 percent, down from 5.9 percent in July and up from 5.5 percent in August 2015;
— Hammond: 7.5 percent, down from 7.8 percent in July and up from 7.3 percent in August 2015;
— Houma: 7 percent, down from 7.2 percent in July and up from 5.7 percent in August 2015;
— Lafayette: 7.6 percent, down from 7.8 percent in July and up from 6.5 percent in August 2015;
— Lake Charles: 5.4 percent, down from 5.5 percent in July and unchanged from August 2015;
— Monroe: 6.7 percent, down from 6.8 percent in
July and down from 6.8 percent in August 2015;
— New Orleans: 6.2 percent, down from 6.3 percent in July and up from 6.1 percent in August 2015;
— Shreveport: 7.1 percent, down from 7.3 percent in July and up from 7 percent in August 2015.