Tri-Parish, state jobless rates above 2014 rates

Tri-Parish unemployment rates for April remain above those of a year ago, according to not seasonally adjusted data released Tuesday by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
St. Landry Parish’s unemployment rate in May was 8.2 percent, up from 7.2 percent a year ago in May.
Acadia Parish’s May jobless rate was 6.9 percent, up from 5.5 percent in May 2014.
Evangeline Parish’s unemployment rate in May was 7.5 percent, up from 6.5 percent in May 2014.
The Tri-Parish jobless rates track the state rate of 6.6 percent in May, up from 6 percent in May 2014.
The number of people working over the year also rose.
In St. Landry Parish there were 32,312 people working, up from 31,541 in May 2014.
In Acadia Parish there were 25,686 people working in May, up from 25,195 in May 2014.
In Evangeline Parish there were 12,463 people working in May, up from 12,350 in May 2014.
There were 2,065,471 people working in May in Louisiana, up from 2,014,084 in May 2014.
The state’s civilian labor force set a record in May, growing by 9,150 over the month and by 68,168 over the year, according to the not seasonally adjusted data. Those employed in the labor force grew to a record 2,065,471, an increase of 1,546 over the month and 51,387 over the year.
Meanwhile, Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up by 0.3 percentage points over the month to 6.6 percent. The number of people looking for work also increased by 7,604 in May, according to estimates from a BLS survey of 750 Louisiana households.
“These numbers show a continued trend of solid jobs and labor force growth throughout Louisiana for the last four years,” said Curt Eysink, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
A separate BLS survey of employers across industries and the state found Louisiana added 7,100 nonfarm jobs in May to bring the not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment total to 1,994,300, making May the fourth highest month in the state’s history.
Private employers added 7,800 jobs over the month and 14,000 jobs over the year. Leisure and hospitality posted the largest over-the-month increase with 3,700 new jobs in May. Education and health services added 1,600 jobs and the manufacturing sector added 1,400 jobs.
Mining and logging, which includes oil and gas, lost 300 jobs over the month and 5,900 jobs over the year.
The Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area added 1,800 nonfarm jobs over the month and 5,900 jobs over the year, making May the 53rd consecutive month of over-the-year increases. Nonfarm employment in the Lake Charles metro area has had 47 consecutive months of over-the-year increases with 5,800 more jobs than last year.
Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates in May compared to May 2014 for the nine Louisiana metro areas were:
— Alexandria: 6.9 percent, up from 6.3 percent in May 2014;
— Baton Rouge: 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent;
— Hammond: 7.1 percent, up from 7.0 percent;
— Houma, 5.8 percent, up from 4.6 percent;
— Lafayette: 6.5 percent, up from 5.1 percent;
— Lake Charles: 5.6 percent, up from 5.5 percent;
— Monroe: 7.1 percent, up from 6.7 percent;
— New Orleans: 6.3 percent, up from 5.9 percent;
— Shreveport: 7.2 percent, up from 6.6 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.