COVID – 19 May 2020 State Data

BATON ROUGE – Preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 13.3 percent; down approximately 1.8 percentage points from April 2020’s revised rate of 15.1 percent. Louisiana’s preliminary seasonally adjusted rate for the same period was 14.5 percent.

Due to people who were employed but absent from work, COVID-19, and an error in the Current Population-Household Survey (CPS), the revision amount for the April 2020 unemployment rate is significant in comparison to previous months. For more information on this error for April and May 2020, and other BLS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) please click here.

Please note, on a monthly basis, the BLS makes revisions to all state preliminary estimates. These estimates are subject to revision on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. The national unemployment rate is not subject to monthly revision, and undergoes adjustment (due to population control) annually in November.

Seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased 132,699 from 1,640,602 in April 2020 to 1,773,301 in May 2020. When compared to May 2019, seasonally adjusted employed indivduals decreased 219,894.

The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased 18,086 from 291,286 in April 2020 to 273,200 in May 2020. When compared to May 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 179,638.

The seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 114,613 from 1,931,888 in April 2020 to 2,046,501 in May 2020. When compared to May 2019, Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force decreased by 40,256.

“The three major labor force indicators, employment, unemployment and civilian labor force have showed marked improvement from where we were just a month ago,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie. “We hope to see continued progress in these data points that show Louisiana residents returning to workforce. The LWC will be deploying all its resource to assist any and all individuals who have been displaced, back into family-sustaining careers.”

Among Louisiana’s MSAs in May 2020, seasonally adjusted data shows:

• Alexandria gained 1,500 jobs from April 2020, but lost 4,400 jobs from May 2019.

• Baton Rouge gained 9,000 jobs from April 2020, but lost 43,700 jobs from May 2019.

• Hammond gained 400 jobs from April 2020, but lost 4,800 jobs from May 2019.

• Houma gained 200 jobs from April 2020, but lost 8,400 jobs from May 2019.

• Lafayette gained 5,700 jobs from April 2020, but lost 20,700 jobs from May 2019.

• Lake Charles gained 5,100 jobs from April 2020, but lost 15,800 jobs from May 2019.

• Monroe gained 2,000 jobs from April 2020, but lost 7,200 jobs from May 2019.

• New Orleans gained 8,900 jobs from April 2020, but lost 96,900 jobs from May 2019.

• Shreveport gained 2,400 jobs from April 2020, but lost 20,000 jobs from May 2019.

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 32,800 jobs from 1,722,400 in April 2020 to 1,755,200 in May 2020. Since May 2019, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 236,000 jobs.

Seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 38,400 jobs from 1,400,300 in April 2020 to 1,438,700 in May 2020. Since May 2019, seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 221,600 jobs.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 125,453 from 1,649,341 in April 2020 to 1,774,794 in May 2020. When compared to May 2019, not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 220,846.

The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased 13,963 from 280,620 In April 2020 to 266,657 in May 2020. When compared to May 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased 176,888.

Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work increased by 111,490 from 1,929,961 in April 2020 to 2,041,451 in May 2020. From May 2019, the not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force decreased by 43,958.

Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 35,000 jobs from 1,728,900 in April 2020 to 1,763,900 in May 2020. From May 2019, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 237,400 jobs.

Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 42,800 jobs from 1,401,800 in April 2020 to 1,444,600 in May 2020. From May 2019, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 222,400 jobs.

May metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and parish unemployment rates will be released on June 26, 2020. 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.

Data Considerations

All data published from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is preliminary and is subject to revision on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Revised numbers for previous months are available from the BLS databases located on bls.gov. The revised numbers are available upon release of new data.

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 http://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.