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Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates drop in every MSA

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana’s February 2021 not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from January to 7.1%. This is the lowest not seasonally adjusted rate since the March 2020 pre-pandemic rate of 5.3 percent. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also fell over the month in all nine of Louisiana’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA).

Since January 2021, not seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased by 14,700 jobs from 1,815,900 to 1,830,600 in February 2021. When compared to February 2020, not seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment decreased by 158,000 jobs.

Since January 2021, not seasonally adjusted total private employment increased by 10,300 jobs from 1,501,300 to 1,511,600 in February 2021. When compared to February 2020, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 143,000 jobs.

Industries that showed the largest gains for not seasonally adjusted jobs for February 2021:

Leisure and Hospitality gained 3,400 jobs from January 2021.

Professional and Business Services added 3,200 jobs from January 2021.

Construction added 1,700 jobs from January 2021.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 1,700 jobs from January 2021.

The number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 3,625 from 1,894,136 in January 2021 to 1,897,761 in February. When compared to February 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 150,081.

The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 11,114 from 155,458 in January 2021 to 144,344 in February. When compared to February 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 53,934.

Not seasonally adjusted February 2021 unemployment rates for Louisiana’s nine MSAs are as follows:

• Alexandria: 4.7 percent, down from 5.2 percent in January, but up from 4.4 percent in February 2020.

• Baton Rouge: 6.2 percent, down from 6.7 percent in January, but up from 3.8 percent in February 2020.

• Hammond: 8.0 percent, down from 8.7 percent in January, but up from 4.6 percent in February 2020.

• Houma: 6.2 percent, down from 6.7 percent in January, but up from 3.9 percent in February 2020.

• Lafayette: 6.5 percent, down from 7.0 percent in January, but up from 4.2 percent in February 2020.

• Lake Charles: 7.3 percent, down from 8.1 percent in January, but up from 3.9 percent in February 2020.

• Monroe: 6.2 percent, down from 6.6 percent in January, but up from 4.9 percent in February 2020.

• New Orleans: 8.6 percent, down from 9.1 percent in January, but up from 3.8 percent in February 2020.

• Shreveport: 6.8 percent, down from 7.3 percent in January, but up from 4.5 percent in February 2020.

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.