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Louisiana employment sets another record in July

BATON ROUGE – The number of people employed in July set an all-time record for the month, based on Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) information released today. This comes on the heels of Louisiana setting an all-time employment record for the month of June. With a seasonally adjusted increase of 27,752 from July 2017, the total number of people now employed stands at 2,031,277. The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 832 from July 2017.

Since July 2017, the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 26,920 to 2,136,318. For the month of July, this is the third highest seasonally adjusted civilian labor force total.

Compared to July 2017, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 4.9 percent. Historically speaking, this is the second lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month of July.

From July 2017, the number of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased by 20,800 to 1,988,300. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment has added jobs over the year for the past ten months. From June 2018, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment added 300 jobs. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment has added jobs over the month in six of the past eight months.

Since July 2017, seasonally adjusted private-sector employment increased by 23,500 jobs to 1,664,300. Seasonally adjusted private-sector employment has also added jobs over the year for the past ten months. From June 2018, seasonally adjusted private-sector employment gained 900 jobs. Seasonally adjusted private-sector employment has now added jobs over the month in eight of the past ten months.

“For the past two months, Louisiana has set multiple employment records as the labor force continues to strengthen and improve across a variety of sectors,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) Secretary Ava Dejoie. “Our work however is never finished, and the LWC will continue to ensure to help every person in search of work, find an opportunity to provide for themselves and contribute to the state of Louisiana.”

Industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs:

• Manufacturing gained 4,800 jobs for the year and 400 jobs for the month.

• Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 1,800 jobs for the year and 1,800 jobs for the month.

• Information gained 1,600 jobs for the year and 900 jobs for the month.

Among other seasonally adjusted sectors in July:

• Other Services, which includes industries engaged in activities such as equipment and machinery repair and services, gained 1,500 jobs for the year and 200 jobs for the month.

• Construction gained 2,600 jobs for the year, but lost 400 jobs for the month.

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)

Among Louisiana’s MSAs, seasonally adjusted data shows:

• Alexandria gained 300 jobs from July 2017 and 200 jobs from June 2018.

• Baton Rouge gained 7,700 jobs from July 2017, but lost 400 jobs from June 2018.

• Hammond gained 900 jobs from July 2017 and 100 jobs from June 2018.

• Houma gained 100 jobs from July 2017, but lost 300 jobs from June 2018.

• Lafayette lost 700 jobs from July 2017, but remained unchanged from June 2018.

• Lake Charles gained 2,800 jobs from July 2017 and 200 jobs from June 2018.

• Monroe gained 600 jobs from July 2017 and 200 jobs from June 2018.

• New Orleans gained 7,200 jobs from July 2017 and 200 jobs from June 2018.

• Shreveport lost 100 jobs from July 2017 and 300 jobs from June 2018.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 26,000 jobs from July 2017 to 1,980,200. This is the tenth straight over-the-year increase. Over the same time period, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 28,500 jobs. This is also the tenth straight over-the-year increase.

From July 2017, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 17,084 to 2,033,470. From June 2018, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed people increased by 8,937. The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 3,781 from June 2018.

The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people of who employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 24,271 to 2,160,283 since July 2017. From June 2018, the not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased by 5,156.

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points from June 2018 to 5.9 percent.

July metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and parish unemployment rates will be released on August 24, 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 worker compensation benefits. The agency also gathers and supplies information on the labor market and occupational sectors in Louisiana.