COVID – 19 May 2020 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSAs) Data

BATON ROUGE – 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 by 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, not 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.

Not seasonally adjusted May 2020 unemployment rates for Louisiana’s nine MSAs are as follows:

• Alexandria: 9.2 percent, up from 4.6 percent in May 2019, but down from 9.9 percent from April.

• Baton Rouge: 11.8 percent, up from 3.9 percent in May 2019, but down from 13.0 percent from April.

• Hammond: 16.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in May 2019, but down from 17.1 percent from April.

• Houma: 10.9 percent, up from 4.2 percent in May 2019, but down from 12.4 percent from April.

• Lafayette: 11.6 percent, up from 4.3 percent from May 2019, but down from 13.0 percent from April.

• Lake Charles: 13.1 percent, up from 3.6 percent in May 2019, but down from 14.2 percent from April.

• Monroe: 10.8 percent, up from 4.8 percent in May 2019, but down from 11.7 percent from April.

• New Orleans: 16.4 percent, up from 4.0 percent in May 2019, but down from 19.0 percent from April.

• Shreveport: 12.5 percent, up from 4.6 percent in May 2019, but down from 13.1 percent from April.

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.