BATON ROUGE, La. — The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.1 percent, which is up from August 2020’s revised seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 7.7 percent.
However, Louisiana seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment has added 129,000 jobs since the height of the pandemic in April 2020, according to a release from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment for Sept. 2020 stands at 1,851,400.
In September, Lafayette gained 1,300 jobs from August 2020, but lost 10,700 jobs since September 2019.
Since August 2020, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 20,076 from 1,944,803 to 1,924,727 in September 2020. Compared to September 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 68,363.
Since August 2020, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 8,513 from 161,816 to 170,329 in September 2020. Compared to September 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 64,234.
"In addition to the ongoing pandemic, Louisiana’s job market has also been impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta, which has slowed economic recovery in the southwest region of our state,” stated LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie in the release. "As our state continues to recover across our industry sectors, the LWC stands ready to deploy all of our resources to assist our fellow citizens’ return to family-sustaining careers."
Industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs for September 2020 include:
- Construction gained 5,000 jobs from August 2020.
- Professional and Business Services gained 2,400 jobs from August 2020.
- Financial Activities gained 1,900 jobs from August 2020.
Among Louisiana’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in September 2020, seasonally adjusted data shows:
- Alexandria gained 600 jobs from August 2020, but lost 2,300 jobs from September 2019.
- Baton Rouge lost 3,800 jobs from August 2020 and 26,000 jobs from September 2019.
- Hammond gained 200 jobs from August 2020, but lost 2,400 jobs from September 2019.
- Houma lost 100 jobs from August 2020 and 5,500 jobs from September 2019.
- Lafayette gained 1,300 jobs from August 2020, but lost 10,700 jobs from September 2019.
- Lake Charles lost 5,900 jobs from August 2020 and 22,400 jobs from September 2019.
- Monroe gained 100 jobs from August 2020, but remained unchanged from September 2019.
- New Orleans gained 4,600 jobs from August 2020, but lost 61,800 jobs from September 2019.
- Shreveport gained 600 jobs from August 2020, but lost 10,200 jobs from September 2019.
Since August 2020, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 1,600 jobs from 1,853,000 to 1,851,400 in September 2020. From September 2019, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 135,700 jobs.
Since August 2020, seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 2,900 jobs from 1,521,400 to 1,524,300 in September 2020. From September 2019, seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 130,300 jobs.
You can read more from the LWC unemployment data here.
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