Worker ranks decline

Unemployment rates in St. Landry and Evangeline parishes dropped in November from year-ago levels, but the number of people working also declined.
St. Landry and Evangeline parishes tracked employment statistics in the state where unemployment rates declined in November from year-ago levels in most of Louisiana’s metropolitan statistical areas, according to not-seasonally-adjusted data released today by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Acadia Parish’s jobless rate declined in November compared to a year ago, but the number of people working declined over the year.
The state’s November unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, down from 6.8 percent a year earlier. Unemployment rates fell over the year in all nine MSAs except Lafayette and Houma-Thibodaux. Lafayette and Houma-Thibodaux have been hit hard by low oil prices. Lafayette lost 5,100 jobs over the year and has recorded eight consecutive months of over-the-year losses.
St. Landry Parish’s November unemployment rate was 7.6 percent, down from 8 percent a year ago in November. October’s jobless rate was 8.3 percent.
There were 30,972 people employed in November in St. Landry Parish, down from 31,895 a year ago in November and 31,084 in October.
In Evangeline Parish, the November unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, down from 7.2 percent a year ago and 7.7 percent in October.
There were 11,977 people employed in Evangeline Parish, down from 12,517 a year ago and 12,044 in October.
In Acadia Parish, the November unemployment rate was 6.6 percent, up from 6.2 percent, but down from 7.1 percent in October.
There were 24,637 people employed in November, down from 25,689 in November 2014. There were 24,697 people employed in October.
Only the Baton Rouge and Lake Charles MSAs showed job gains over the year. Employment in the Baton Rouge MSA is at a historic high with 59 consecutive months of over-the-year increases. Lake Charles has recorded 53 consecutive months of over-the-year increases.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics data also show the number of people employed in the state’s civilian labor force fell about 40,000 over the year, standing at 2,013,141 in November 2015. The data show the number of unemployed people also declined in Louisiana, with 125,212 people out of work in November 2015 compared with 148,719 a year earlier.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink said the data confirm low oil prices continue to depress employment in Louisiana. “The oil-sensitive coastal parishes have taken a blow, with 9,600 of the job losses over the year in the Lafayette, Houma-Thibodaux and New Orleans areas,” he said.
Not-seasonally-adjusted November unemployment rates and over-the-year nonfarm job change totals for the state and its MSAs are as follows:
• Statewide: 5.9 percent, down from 6.8 percent in November 2014. Down 11,500 jobs.
• Alexandria: 6 percent, down from 7.1 percent in November 2014. Down 800 jobs.
• Baton Rouge: 4.9 percent, down from 6.1 percent in November 2014. Up 9,100 jobs.
• Hammond: 6.5 percent, down from 7.7 percent in November 2014. Unchanged from last year.
• Houma-Thibodaux: 5.6 percent, up from 5.4 percent in November 2014. Down 2,800 jobs.
• Lafayette: 6.3 percent, up from 5.8 percent in November 2014. Down 5,100 jobs.
• Lake Charles: 4.8 percent, down from 6.1 percent in November 2014. Up 4,000 jobs.
• Monroe: 6.1 percent, down from 7.4 percent in November 2014. Down 1,000 jobs.
• New Orleans: 5.6 percent, down from 6.8 percent in November 2014. Down 1,700 jobs.
• Shreveport: 6.4 percent, down from 7.5 percent in November 2014. Down 2,000 jobs.
The November unemployment rate in the U.S. was 4.8 percent, down from 5.5 percent in November 2014 and 6.4 percent in October. The number of people employed in the U.S. grew from 147,666,000 in November 2014 to 149,766,00 this November.