Richland Parish jobless rate up slightly in October

The Richland Parish unemployment rate rose more than half a percent in October according to the latest figures from the Louisiana Works Commission.

Richland’s unemployment rate rose from 7.3 percent in September to 8 percent in October. It was 6.5 percent in October 2019.

That translates into 662 people out of work in October, up from 604 in September and 534 a year ago.

Currently 7,656 people are employed in Richland Parish, down from 7,685 last month and 7,684 a year ago.

St. John the Baptist Parish had the states highest employment rate with 13.5 percent and LaSalle Parish had the lowest rate with 5.2 percent.

Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 29,300 jobs from 1,853,400 in September 2020 to 1,882,700 jobs in October 2020. When compared to October 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 112,000 jobs.

Since September 2020, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 28,800 jobs from 1,525,900 to 1,554,700 in October 2020. 

When compared to October 2019, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment decreased by 102,800 jobs.

Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2020 increased to 9.3 percent; an increase of 1.2 percentage points from September 2020’s revised not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. The October 2019 unemployment rate was 5.0 percent.

Since September 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 6,331 from 1,927,373 to 1,921,042 in October 2020. When compared to October 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 81,562.

Since September 2020, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 27,527 from 169,723 to 197,250 in October 2020. When compared to October 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 91,406.

Not seasonally adjusted October 2020 unemployment rates for Louisiana’s nine MSAs are as follows:

• Alexandria: 6.8 percent, up from 6.0 percent in September and up from 5.3 percent in October 2019.

• Baton Rouge: 8.0 percent, up from 7.0 percent in September and up from 4.6 percent in October 2019.

• Hammond: 10.5 percent, up from 9.3 percent in September and up from 5.6 percent in October 2019.

• Houma: 7.9 percent, up from 6.8 percent in September and up from 4.7 percent in October 2019.

• Lafayette: 8.3 percent, up from 7.3 percent in September and up from 4.9 percent in October 2019.

• Lake Charles: 11.8 percent, down from 12.0 percent in September, but up from 4.2 percent in October 2019.

• Monroe: 7.7 percent, up from 6.7 percent in September and up from 5.6 percent in October 2019.

• New Orleans: 11.3 percent, up from 9.4 percent in September and up from 4.7 percent in October 2019.

• Shreveport: 9.0 percent, up from 7.6 percent in September and up from 5.4 percent in October 2019.