Tri-Parish work force down 2.8%

The Tri-Parish work force declined by 2.8 percent in the 12 months ending in February, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The work force in St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline parishes totaled 71,083 in February, down from 73,127 a year ago in February. The workforce is the number of employed and unemployed.
Louisiana’s total civilian labor force rose by more than 10,000 people during February, the second consecutive over-the-month increase after 12 months of declines, the report stated.
In St. Landry Parish, the work force was 33,009 in February down 2 percent from a year ago.
In Acadia Parish, the labor force was 25,455, down 3.5 percent from a year ago.
In Evangeline Parish, labor force was 12,619, down 3.2 percent form a year ago.
February unemployment rates were:
St. Landry Parish, 7.6 percent, down from 8.3 percent in January and 8.2 percent a year ago in February. There were 30,492 people working and 2,517 people looking for work in February.
Acadia Parish, 6.8 percent, down from 7.2 percent in January and up from 6.3 percent in February 2015. There were 23,732 people working and 1,723 people unemployed in February.
Evangeline Parish, 7.2 percent, down from 7.6 percent in January and 7.4 percent in February 2015. There were 11,715 people employed and 904 unemployed in February.
For the month, the state’s civilian labor force – the number of people employed and unemployed but looking for a job – rose to 2,146,368, a gain of 10,428. The number of people employed grew by 8,000 over January, the largest over-the-month increase for the month of February since 1977. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed 2,018,807 people had jobs in Louisiana during February.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Ava Dejoie said, “The increase in the civilian labor force may be a cautious signal that job-seekers are gaining confidence that they can find employment in our state despite the downturn in the oil and gas industry.”
Nonfarm jobs in February totaled 1,978,500, down 4,700 from January and 18,700 from a year ago. Louisiana continued to feel the impact of low oil prices as the mining and logging sector, which includes oil and gas, lost 1,200 jobs for the month and 11,300 over the year.
Over the month, construction lost 4,700 jobs but is up 3,400 over the year. Leisure and hospitality lost 2,700 jobs in February and is down 200 over the year.
Among other sectors in February:
— Trade, transportation and utilities gained 1,400 jobs for the month. The sector is up 1,100 jobs over the year.
— Information added 1,700 jobs for the month but lost 1,100 over the year.
— Financial activities, which includes companies that lease oilfield equipment, gained 600 jobs for the month but is down 2,900 over the year.
— Professional and business services gained 800 jobs in February but lost 4,600 over the year. This sector includes companies that provide employees for oil-related companies.
— Education and health services rose 500 jobs for the month. The sector is up 6,400 jobs over the year.
— Government employment lost 300 jobs in February and is down 2,600 over the year.
Among Louisiana’s nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), seasonally-adjusted data for February showed:
— Alexandria lost 100 jobs for the month but gained 300 over the year.
— Baton Rouge lost 1,400 jobs in February but is up 7,200 over the year.
— Houma lost 500 jobs for the month and is down 6,700 over the year.
— Lake Charles gained 100 jobs for February and is up 2,300 over the year.
— Monroe had no change for the month but gained 800 jobs over the year.
— New Orleans lost 2,000 jobs over the month and is down 400 jobs over the year.
The bureau does not report seasonally-adjusted data for Hammond, Lafayette and Shreveport because of changes in those areas’ demographics. Not-seasonally-adjusted data for February showed:
— Hammond added 100 jobs for the month but lost 300 over the year.
— Lafayette gained 1,400 jobs over the month but has lost 9,100 over the year.
— Shreveport gained 300 jobs for February but has lost 2,200 over the year.
The not-seasonally-adjusted civilian labor force employment data for all MSAs in February showed each added jobs during the month.
Seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation. Not-seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparing them to the state.