Jobless rate falls for Richland

The jobless rate in Richland Parish fell slightly in March according to the latest figures from the Louisiana Works Commission.

Figures released June 30 show Richland Parish’s unemployment rate fell from 9.3 percent in April to 8.9 percent in May. That is still significantly higher than the 7.1 percent recorded in May 2014.

This translates to 798 people looking for work in Richland Parish in May, down from 803 in April. In May 2014, 606 people were out of work in the parish.

There was some good news in the figures. While the number of people looking for work in Richland Parish is greater than it was a year ago, so is the number of people employed in the parish. The total number of people employed in Richland Parish in May was 8,123, up from 8,090 in April and 7,960 a year ago.

Jefferson Davis Parish had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 6 percent. 

East Carroll Parish had the state’s highest jobless rate at

14.9 percent.

Louisiana’s overall labor force, the number of people employed in the labor force, and nonfarm jobs grew in May, according to not seasonally adjusted data released today by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The state’s civilian labor force set a record in May, growing by 9,150 over the month and by 68,168 over the year, according to the not seasonally adjusted data. Those employed in the labor force grew to a record 2,065,471, an increase of 1,546 over the month and 51,387 over the year.

Meanwhile, Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up by 0.3 percentage points over the month to 6.6 percent. The number of people looking for work also increased by 7,604 in May, according to estimates from a BLS survey of 750 Louisiana households.

“These numbers show a continued trend of solid jobs and labor force growth throughout Louisiana for the last four years,” said Curt Eysink, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

A separate BLS survey of employers across industries and the state found Louisiana added 7,100 nonfarm jobs in May to bring the not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment total to 1,994,300, making May the fourth highest month in the state’s history.

Private employers added 7,800 jobs over the month and 14,000 jobs over the year. Leisure and hospitality posted the largest over-the-month increase with 3,700 new jobs in May. Education and health services added 1,600 jobs and the manufacturing sector added 1,400 jobs.

Mining and logging, which includes oil and gas, lost 300 jobs over the month and 5,900 jobs over the year.