Louisiana sets September employment record

Nonfarm employment set a September monthly record and the state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6 percent, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The state added 2,500 nonfarm jobs over the 12-month period, bringing the total to 1,990,000, according to the seasonally adjusted survey of 7,000 Louisiana employers. Private employment rose by 7,200 jobs over the year, marking the 60th consecutive month of over-the-year increases.
The number of unemployed people looking for work in Louisiana declined by 1,623 over the month and 21,010 over the 12-month period to 128,979, the lowest level since May 2014, seasonally adjusted data show. Those employed in the total labor force declined by 14,115 over the month but rose by 5,536 over the year.
Despite over-the-year gains in the state’s overall not seasonally adjusted job total, low oil prices continued to depress employment in the mining and logging sector, which includes oil and gas. The sector lost 1,200 jobs in September and 8,800 over the 12-month period, a decline of over 16 percent from a year ago. The greatest impact is being felt in the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area where the mining and logging sector lost 2,300 jobs over the year. Data also show losses in mining and logging are being felt in the New Orleans (-900), Houma (-900) and Shreveport (-800) MSA’s as well.
“Low prices for oil are now being reflected in job losses across parts of south Louisiana and Acadiana,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink. “The New Orleans area appears to be losing jobs in oilfield support services and construction. The impact also is being felt in the Shreveport area,” he said.
Among oil patch areas, the total nonfarm not seasonally adjusted data show:
• The Shreveport MSA showed a loss of 500 jobs in September and 1,700 over the year. Employment was at its lowest level since January 2005.
• Houma lost 400 jobs in September and 2,000 jobs over the year. The MSA has lost jobs over-the-year for nine consecutive months after posting 39 straight months of gains.
• The Lafayette MSA lost 600 jobs in September and 3,700 jobs over the year. It was the lowest September employment level since 2012 and the over-the-year loss in the month of September was the first since 2009.
• Defying the downward oil patch trend was the Lake Charles MSA, where billions of dollars of industrial construction continues to fuel job growth. The MSA had no change over the month and gained 3,800 jobs over the year.
Another bright spot in the report was the Baton Rouge MSA, which gained 3,800 jobs over the month and 6,700 over the year. The region has recorded over-the-year gains each month since January 2011. Total employment of 407,400 was the highest in Baton Rouge history.
Seasonally adjusted data show education and health services registered the largest over-the-year increase with 8,200 more jobs than in September 2014 and construction had the largest over-the-month increase with 3,100 more jobs than in August 2015. Other sectors showing improvement included:
• Leisure and hospitality, which grew by 1,900 jobs over the month and 5,700 jobs over the 12-month period.
• Professional and business services, which added 1,900 jobs since August 2015 and 5,100 jobs since September 2014.
Sectors that showed the largest seasonally adjusted over-the-month declines statewide in September included:
• Trade, transportation, and utilities, down 1,600 jobs.
• Other services – including consumer services such as repair and maintenance and personal services – down 1,500 jobs.
• Manufacturing, down 1,400 jobs.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission will release September unemployment percentages for the nine Metropolitan Statistical Areas and the 64 parishes on Oct. 27.
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. In 2015, the BLS will not provide seasonally adjusted data for the Lafayette, Shreveport, or Hammond metro areas because of significant changes in their parish composition. BLS plans to review those metro areas in 2016 to consider resuming seasonally adjusted estimates.