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Louisiana hits employment record for the month of June

BATON ROUGE – Data released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 36,732 to 2,036,316 from June 2017. This is the highest level of employment for the month of June in series history. Over that same time period, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 7,610 to 101,377.

The seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 29,122 from June 2017 to 2,137,693. This is the third highest the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force has been for the month of June.

Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 4.7 percent from June 2017. For the month of June, this is the third lowest unemployment rate in series history. From May 2018, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage point.

From June 2017, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 17,200 jobs to 1,989,100. For the past nine months, nonfarm employment has seen over-the-year gains. From June 2017, seasonally adjusted private-sector employment increased by 19,900 jobs to 1,664,500. The seasonally adjusted private-sector has also added jobs over-the-year for the past nine months.

“Louisiana’s economy continues to move in a positive direction, as proven by the consistent over the year improvement these past few months,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie. “We will continue to ensure that every Louisiana resident in search of work, has access to our agency resources and an equal opportunity at a family-sustaining career.”

Industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs:

• Education & Health Services gained 900 jobs for the month and 4,900 jobs for the year.

• Manufacturing gained 1,100 jobs for the month and 3,700 jobs for the year.

• Construction gained 200 jobs for the month and 3,500 jobs for the year. The Construction employment sector is currently at a series high for employment.

• Other Services, which includes industries engaged in activities such as equipment and machinery repair and services, gained 200 jobs for the month and 1,200 jobs for the year.

Among other seasonally adjusted sectors in June:

• Professional and Business Services lost 1,000 jobs for the month, but is up 4,500 jobs for the year.

• Leisure and Hospitality lost 1,600 jobs for the month, but is up 4,300 jobs for the year.

The Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is at a series high for employment. Among remaining Louisiana MSAs, seasonally adjusted data shows:

• Alexandria remained unchanged from May 2018, but gained 500 jobs from June 2017.

• Baton Rouge gained 3,000 jobs from May 2018 and 7,300 jobs from June 2017.

• Hammond gained 100 jobs from May 2018 and 700 jobs from June 2017.

• Houma lost 200 jobs from May 2018, but remained unchanged from June 2017.

• Lafayette gained 200 jobs from May 2018, but lost 700 jobs from June 2017.

• Lake Charles lost 100 jobs from May 2018, but gained 2,500 jobs from June 2017.

• Monroe lost 100 jobs from May 2018, but gained 400 jobs from June 2017.

• New Orleans lost 3,400 jobs from May 2018, but gained 3,000 jobs from June 2017.

• Shreveport lost 400 jobs from May 2018, but gained 200 jobs from June 2017.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment for the month increased by 21,200 jobs from June 2017 to 1,995,100. This is the ninth straight over-the-year increase. From June 2017, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 23,900 jobs to 1,671,300. Not seasonally adjusted total private sector employment has added jobs for the past nine months. From May 2018, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 800 jobs.

The number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 14,024 from June 2017 to 2,024,799.

The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 19,944 from June 2017 to 2,155,532. From May 2018, the not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased by 25,073.

June metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and parish unemployment rates will be released on July 27, 2018. For additional state and MSA data release dates, please click here.

Seasonally Adjusted vs. Not-Seasonally Adjusted Data

Jobs and employment trends data are often difficult to understand because there are two different ways to look at the data, seasonally or non-seasonally adjusted data.

Seasonal adjustment works to measure and remove the influences of predictable seasonal patterns to reveal how employment and unemployment figures change from month to month. Not seasonally adjusted data retains seasonal employment trends.

Over the course of a year, the labor force size, available jobs and employment rates undergo predictable fluctuations due to seasonal changes in weather, harvests, major holidays, and school schedules. Seasonal adjustment reduces the impact of these changes, making it easier to understand trends. Seasonally adjusted data is best utilized when comparing several months of employment and jobs data, while not seasonally adjusted data is best used to compare over-the-year trends. Seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission primarily uses seasonally adjusted data because it provides a more useful and telling picture of Louisiana’s jobs and employment situation.

To view all available employment data, visit Louisiana’s employment homepage at http://www.laworks.net and select Labor Market Information from the top-right menu. Then, select LOIS (Louisiana Occupational Information System) and select Employment and Wage Data listed under Data Trends. To view the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics for the state, visit http://data.bls.gov/pdq/querytool.jsp?survey=la. For BLS nonfarm employment data, click here: http://data.bls.gov/pdq/querytool.jsp?survey=sm.

Resources for employers and job seekers

Job-seekers can explore careers, apply for top-rated jobs and connect with local training providers using Louisiana Star Jobs, the LWC’s free career tool, at http://www.laworks.net/Stars/. Employers looking for workers should visit Louisiana’s employment homepage at www.laworks.net. Click on HiRE (Helping Individuals Reach Employment) and create an account allowing access to qualified job seekers.

About the Louisiana Workforce Commission

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is an agency of state government that administers programs designed to enhance workforce growth and provide family-sustaining jobs for Louisiana residents. The commission monitors employment, administers unemployment compensation and tax funds, provides training resources for employers and employees and oversees workers’ compensation benefits. The agency also gathers and supplies information on the labor market and occupational sectors in Louisiana.