Four months and counting, Louisiana maintains full employment

BATON ROUGE – Preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.7 percentage points from 5.0 percent in July 2018 to 4.3 percent in July 2019. This is the fourth consecutive month that Louisiana has maintained full employment for its residents.

“The past four months of Louisiana maintaining full employment is a testament to Governor John Bel Edwards’ workforce priorities that have placed Louisiana on this path to prosperity so that more Louisiana residents have been able to find work,” said LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie. “Even with Louisiana’s economy breaking records in both its gross domestic product and personal income figures, the LWC will remain vigilant and ready to assist all those in search of work, find a career and contribute to Louisiana’s economy.”

The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 14,684 from 104,955 in July 2018 to 90,271 in July 2019. When compared to June 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals has declined by 221. The number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals has increased by 8,048 from 1,997,462 in July 2018 to 2,005,510 in July 2019.

Since July 2018, seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 1,100 jobs from 1,654,000 to 1,655,100 in July 2019. This is the 17th straight month that seasonally adjusted private sector employment has added jobs over the year. Since June 2019, seasonally adjusted private sector employment has increased by 100 jobs.

Industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs:

• Education and Health Services gained 8,700 jobs from July 2018 and 200 jobs from June 2019. The Education and Health Services sector is at an all-time record high for employment at 323,800 jobs.

• Professional and Business services gained 2,500 jobs from July 2018 and 2,300 jobs from June 2019.

• Other Services, which includes industries engaged in activities such as equipment and machinery repair services, gained 1,600 jobs from July 2018 and 900 jobs from June 2019.

• The Health Care and Social Assistance subsector gained 7,900 jobs from July 2018 and 600 jobs from June 2019. The Health Care and Social Assistance subsector is at record employment with 276,600 jobs.

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)

Among Louisiana’s MSAs, seasonally adjusted data shows:

• Alexandria lost 100 jobs from July 2018, but remained unchanged from June 2019.

• Baton Rouge lost 1,900 jobs from July 2018 and 1,100 jobs from June 2019.

• Hammond lost 100 jobs from July 2018 and 100 jobs from June 2019.

• Houma lost 2,900 jobs from July 2018 and 100 jobs from June 2019.

• Lafayette gained 1,800 jobs from July 2018 and 100 jobs from June 2019.

• Lake Charles gained 1,000 jobs from July 2018, but lost 100 jobs from June 2019.

• Monroe lost 500 jobs from July 2018 and 300 jobs from June 2019.

• New Orleans gained 8,200 jobs from July 2018 and 100 jobs from June 2019.

• Shreveport lost 3,100 jobs from July 2018 and 200 jobs from June 2019.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 11,081 from 121,375 in July 2018 to 110,294 in July 2019. Since June 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals has decreased by 2,860.

Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points from 5.7 percent in July 2018 to 5.2 percent in July 2019. Since June 2019, Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.3 percent to 5.2 percent.

July metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and parish unemployment rates will be released on August 23, 2019. 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 not 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.