Richland jobless rate falls slightly

Richland Parish’s unemployment rate fell less than half a percent in April according to the latest figures released by the Louisiana Works Commission.

The jobless rate for Richland fell from 9.3 percent in March to 8.9 percent in April. It was 7.1 percent in April 2014.

That means 798 people were out of work in Richland in April, down from 830 in March but up from 606 a year ago.

The current labor force for Richland Parish is 8,123, up from 8,090 in March and 7,960 a year ago.

Jefferson Davis Parish had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in April with 6 percent.

East Carroll Parish had the highest rate with 14.9 percent.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate declined by 0.1 percentage points over the month to 6.3 percent. The number of people looking for work also decreased by 1,494 in April, according to estimates from a BLS survey of 750 Louisiana households.

“The April numbers reflect the same growth we’ve been experiencing for four years,” Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Curt Eysink said.

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

The state’s civilian labor force grew by 10,878 over the month and by 84,455 over the year, according to the not seasonally adjusted data. Those employed in the labor force grew to a record 2,063,629, an increase of 12,372 over the month and 53,546 over the year.

A separate BLS survey of employers across industries and the state found Louisiana added 4,500 nonfarm jobs in April to bring the nonfarm employment total to 1,986,500, not seasonally adjusted data show.

Private employers added 4,300 jobs over the month and 15,000 jobs over the year. Professional and business services posted the largest over-the-month increase with 1,700 additional jobs in April. Leisure and hospitality added 1,500 jobs and the information sector added 1,000 jobs.

Mining and logging, which includes oil and gas, lost 1,100 jobs over the month and 5,100 jobs over the year.

The Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area added 1,000 nonfarm jobs over the month and 7,700 jobs over the year, which means that April the 52nd consecutive month of over-the-year increases. 

Unemployment in the Monroe metropolitan statistical area fell to 6.7 percent during April, down from 6.9 percent in March.