Unemployment rates fall over the year in most metro areas

Unemployment rates fell over the past 12 months in seven of Louisiana’s metropolitan statistical areas in May. That’s according to not-seasonally-adjusted data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Not-seasonally-adjusted data represent a snapshot of employment, but are not adjusted for seasonal factors. The not-seasonally-adjusted rate for Louisiana in May was 6.1 percent, up from 5.8 percent in April but down from 6.4 percent in May 2015. The Louisiana Workforce Commission released seasonally-adjusted data for the state on June 17.
Not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates for Louisiana’s MSAs in May were as follows:
— Alexandria: 6.3 percent, up from 5.7 percent in April and down from 6.7 percent in May 2015;
— Baton Rouge: 5.2 percent, up from 4.8 percent in April and down from 5.6 percent in May 2015;
— Hammond: 6.8 percent, up from 6.5 percent in April and down from 7.4 percent in May 2015;
— Houma: 6.6 percent, up from 6.3 percent in April and from 5.8 percent in May 2015;
— Lafayette: 7.2 percent, up from 6.9 percent in April and from 6.5 percent in May 2015;
— Lake Charles: 4.9 percent, up from 4.7 percent in April and down from 5.5 percent in May 2015;
— Monroe: 6.2 percent, up from 5.9 percent in April and down from 6.8 percent in May 2015;
— New Orleans: 5.5 percent, up from 5.3 percent in April and down from 6.1 percent in May 2015;
— Shreveport: 6.5 percent, up from 6.2 percent in April and down from 7.0 percent in May 2015.