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Unemployment rates fall over the year in all MSA’s for 7th straight month

BATON ROUGE, La. –Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2021 is 4.3 percent, a decrease of 3.2 percentage points from the October 2020 rate of 7.5 percent. The rate also shows a decrease of 0.6 percentage points from the September 2021 revised rate of 4.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate in all nine of Louisiana’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA’s) decreased over the year for the seventh consecutive month. Among the MSA’s, Lake Charles showed the largest unemployment rate decline from October 2020, dropping by 5.7 percentage points.

Since October 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 39,119 from 1,936,242 to 1,975,361 in October 2021. This is the seventh consecutive month with an over-the-year gain. When compared to September 2021, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 24,264.

Since October 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 67,753 from 156,155 to 88,402 in October 2021. This is the seventh consecutive month with an over-the-year decrease in the number of unemployed. When compared to September 2021, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 13,040.

The October 2021 not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people employed or looking for work, is 2,063,763, a decrease of 28,634 from the October 2020 figure of 2,092,397. The series added 11,224 individuals from the September 2021 revised figure of 2,052,539.

Not seasonally adjusted October 2021 unemployment rates for Louisiana’s nine MSA’s are as follows:

• Alexandria: 3.2 percent, down from 3.4 percent in September and down from 5.3 percent in October 2020.

• Baton Rouge: 3.7 percent, down from 4.2 percent in September and down from 6.4 percent in October 2020.

• Hammond: 5.0 percent, down from 6.0 percent in September and down from 8.1 percent in October 2020.

• Houma: 4.5 percent, down from 5.8 percent in September and down from 6.3 percent in October 2020.

• Lafayette: 3.8 percent, down from 4.3 percent in September and down from 6.7 percent in October 2020.

• Lake Charles: 4.2 percent, down from 4.7 percent in September and down from 9.9 percent in October 2020.

• Monroe: 3.7 percent, down from 4.1 percent in September and down from 6.4 percent in October 2020.

• New Orleans: 5.1 percent, down from 6.2 percent in September and down from 9.1 percent in October 2020.

• Shreveport: 4.2 percent, down from 4.6 percent in September and down from 7.3 percent in October 2020.

Since October 2020, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 41,000 jobs from 1,827,100 to 1,868,100 in October 2021. When compared to September 2021, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 52,500 jobs primarily due to Hurricane Ida recovery.

Since October 2020, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 44,200 from 1,510,500 to 1,554,700 in October 2021. When compared to September 2021, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 51,100 jobs.

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

Leisure and Hospitality gained 13,000 jobs from September 2021.

Construction gained 9,800 jobs from September 2021.

Professional and Business Services gained 8,800 jobs from September 2021.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 6,800 jobs from September 2021.

Industries that showed the largest gains for not seasonally adjusted jobs from October 2020:

Leisure and Hospitality gained 14,700 jobs from October 2020.

Professional and Business Services gained 10,800 jobs from October 2020.

Education and Health Services gained 8,200 jobs from October 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.