COVID – 19 June 2020 State Data

BATON ROUGE – Preliminary data for June 2020 released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 9.7 percent; down 4.5 percentage points from May 2020’s revised seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 14.2 percent.

The number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 61,938 from 1,742,230 in May 2020 to 1,804,168 in June 2020. Compared to June 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 188,309.

The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 96,591 from 289,495 in May 2020 to 192,904 in June 2020. Compared to June 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 97,780.

“Louisiana has shown marked improvement from where we were just a month ago, as the LWC continues to place individuals into family-sustaining careers,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie. “With everyone in Louisiana navigating the impact of COVID-19, the LWC will continue tirelessly work to match job-seekers with in-demand local businesses across the state.”

It is important to remember that the last week that claimants will be eligible to receive the additional Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) $600 will be for the week ending July 25, 2020. The LWC strongly encourages individuals to begin their work search now, and rejoin the Louisiana labor force. The LWC has tens of thousands of available family-sustaining careers available from the state’s largest employers listed on our Helping Individuals Reach Employment (HiRE) network here – https://www.louisianaworks.net/hire/vosnet/loginintro.aspx?blnStartHere=True. Create an account today, and explore all the options that are available to all Louisiana residents.

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

• Alexandria gained 600 jobs from May 2020, but lost 4,000 jobs from June 2019.

• Baton Rouge gained 5,800 jobs from May 2020, but lost 39,000 jobs from June 2019.

• Hammond gained 1,900 jobs from May 2020, but lost 2,800 jobs from June 2019.

• Houma gained 2,000 jobs from May 2020, but lost 6,900 jobs from June 2019.

• Lafayette gained 8,900 jobs from May 2020, but lost 12,600 jobs from June 2019.

• Lake Charles gained 1,600 jobs from May 2020, but lost 14,800 jobs from June 2019.

• Monroe gained 1,400 jobs from May 2020, but lost 4,900 jobs from June 2019.

• New Orleans gained 22,900 jobs from May 2020, but lost 74,600 jobs from June 2019.

• Shreveport gained 6,500 jobs from May 2020, but lost 13,400 jobs from June 2019.

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 56,500 jobs from 1,755,400 in May 2020 to 1,811,900 in June 2020. From June 2019, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased 172,500 jobs.

Seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 55,600 jobs from 1,438,200 in May 2020 to 1,493,800 in June 2020. From June 2019, seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased 160,900 jobs.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 10.5 percent; down 3.4 percentage points from May 2020’s revised not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 13.9 percent.

The number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 66,349 from 1,743,630 in May 2020 to 1,809,979 in June 2020. When compared to June 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased 189,227.

The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased 70,830 from 282,453 in May 2020 to 211,623 in June 2020. When compared to June 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 94,031.

Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 50,700 jobs from 1,764,100 in May 2020 to 1,814,800 in June 2020. When compared to June 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 172,800 jobs.

Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 56,500 jobs from 1,444,000 in May 2020 to 1,500,500 in June 2020. When compared to June 2019, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 160,000 jobs.

June metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and parish unemployment rates will be released on July 24, 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.