Tri-Parish jobless rates rose in Oct.

Unemployment rates in the Tri-Parish area rose in October, according to not-seasonally-adjusted data released Monday by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The October jobless rate in St. Landry Parish was 8.2 percent, up from 7.8 percent in September and 8.1 percent a year ago in October.
In Evangeline Parish, the unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in October, up from 7.4 percent in September and 7.1 percent in October 2014.
In Acadia Parish, the jobless October jobless rate was 7.1 percent, up from 6.7 percent in September and 6.3 percent in October 2014.
The state’s October unemployment rate was 6.4 percent, up from 6.2 percent in September, but down from 6.8 percent in October 2014.
The report notes that Lake Charles showed the nation’s third best over-the-year percentage increase in jobs among the nation’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas thanks to billions of dollars of industrial projects that are under construction.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink said, “The construction boom in the Southwest coupled with the continued growth of jobs in the hospitality sector are the bright spots in our state’s jobs picture this fall.”
He added, “However, we continue to see low oil prices having a negative effect on jobs in the Lafayette, Houma and Shreveport areas.”
The Lafayette and Houma-Thibodaux MSAs were the only two with over-the-year unemployment rate increases as they have taken the brunt of the impact of the low price of oil. According to the report, oil-sensitive Lafayette led the nation’s MSAs in its over-the-year decline in jobs with a loss of 4,300. Houma showed the nation’s third-largest percent decrease of jobs with a decline of 2.7 percent. The Shreveport MSA has lost 1,600 nonfarm jobs and 700 mining and logging jobs over the 12-month period.
The number of people working in the Tri-Parish area dropped from a year ago.
In St. Landry Parish, there were 31,103 people working in October down from 31,984 in October 2014.
In Evangeline Parish, there were 12,049 people employed in October, down from 12,607 a year ago in October.
In Acadia Parish, there were 24,723 people employed, down from 25,742 in October 2014.
The not-seasonally-adjusted data show 48,674 fewer participants in the state’s civilian labor force over the 12-month period with 37,076 fewer employed individuals and 11,598 fewer individuals looking for work.
“The decline in the number of people in the civilian labor force may be a result of the slowdown in the oil and gas industry,” Eysink said.
Not-seasonally-adjusted October unemployment rates and over-the-year nonfarm job change totals for the state and the nine MSAs are as follows:
— Statewide: 6.4 percent, up from 6.2 percent in September and down from 6.8 percent in October 2014. Down 8,800 jobs.
— Alexandria: 6.6 percent, up from 6.5 in September and down from 7.2 percent in October 2014. Down 700 jobs.
— Baton Rouge: 5.4 percent, up from 5.3 percent in September and down from 6.2 percent in October 2014. Up 7,200 jobs.
— Hammond: 7.0 percent, up from 6.9 percent in September and down from 7.7 percent in October 2014. Up 100 jobs.
— Houma: 6.0 percent, up from 5.5 percent in September and 5.3 percent in October 2014. Down 2,800 jobs.
— Lafayette: 6.8 percent, up from 6.3 percent in September and 5.8 percent in October 2014. Down 4,300 jobs.
— Lake Charles: 5.3 percent, unchanged from September and down from 6.1 percent in October 2014. Up 4,600 jobs.
— Monroe: 6.8 percent, up from 6.6 percent in September and down from 7.5 percent in October 2014. Down 500 jobs.
— New Orleans: 6.2 percent, up from 6.1 percent in September and down from 6.9 percent in October 2014. Up 600 jobs.
— Shreveport: 7.2 percent, up from 6.9 percent in September and down from 7.6 percent in October 2014. Down 1,600 jobs.