Richland jobless rate increases by 0.3 percent

Unemployment in Richland Parish rose a third of a percent in January, according to figures release last week by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

The latest figures show the jobless rate for Richland Parish rose from 6.3 percent in December to 6.7 percent in January. Both numbers were down from the 7.5 percent registered in January 2020.

This means 534 people were looking for jobs in Richland Parish in January, up from 523 a month earlier, but down from 629 a year ago.

There were 7,467 people working in Richland Parish in January, down from 7,612 in December and 7,723 a year ago.

Jackson and Sabine parishes had the state’s lowest unemployment at 4.6 percent in January. 

East Carroll Parish had the state’s highest rate at 12.5 percent.

Preliminary data for February 2021 released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment rose by 3,400 jobs from January to 1,838,300. 

Nonfarm employment is down 155,200 jobs from February 2020. 

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged from January at 7.6 percent.

 The 7.6 percent figure is the lowest rate since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Since January 2021, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 6,704 from 1,925,840 to 1,919,136 in February 2021. From February 2020, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 120,275.

Since January 2021, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 1,290 from 158,490 to 157,200 in February 2021.

From February 2020, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 45,104.

The civilian labor force, or the number of people employed or looking for work, is 2,076,336, a loss of 7,994 from January 2021. 

The series is down 75,171 individuals from the February 2020 figure of 2,151,507.

Seasonally adjusted total private employment rose by 4,300 jobs from January 2021 to 1,522,400. Total private employment is down 140,000 jobs from the February 2020 figure of 1,662,400.

“Louisiana has been seeing job gains in the industries that were hit hardest by the pandemic,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie.

Industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs for February 2021:

• Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 2,900 jobs from January 2021.

• Professional and Business Services gained 2,400 jobs from January 2021.

• Leisure and Hospitality gained 2,200 jobs from January 2021.

Among Louisiana’s MSAs in February 2021, seasonally adjusted data shows:

• Alexandria (59,900 jobs) showed no change from January 2021, but lost 1,700 jobs from February 2020.

• Baton Rouge (389,000 jobs) gained 300 jobs from January 2021, but lost 20,200 jobs from February 2020.

• Hammond (45,500 jobs) lost 100 jobs from January 2021 and lost 1,400 jobs from February 2020.

• Houma (81,600 jobs) gained 100 jobs from January 2021, but lost 5,800 jobs from February 2020.

• Lafayette (188,300 jobs) lost 300 jobs from January 2021 and lost 17,900 jobs from February 2020.

• Lake Charles (92,100 jobs) gained 600 jobs from January 2021, but lost 19,200 jobs from February 2020.

• Monroe (73,200 jobs) lost 1,000 jobs from January 2021 and lost 4,700 jobs from February 2020.

• New Orleans (526,800 jobs) gained 1,800 jobs from January 2021, but lost 65,800 jobs from February 2020.

• Shreveport (166,000 jobs) lost 100 jobs from January 2021 and lost 13,400 jobs from February 2020.