Parish jobless rate falls

St. Mary Parish’s unemployment rate in October fell to 6.4 percent, down from 6.9 percent in September and 6.6 percent in October 2012, the Louisiana Workforce Commission reported.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped in September and October, the commission reported Thursday. In addition, the unemployment rates in all eight Louisiana metro areas improved over the month, but not over the year.
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Louisiana was 6.1 percent in October, down from 6.5 percent in September and 7.1 percent in August. The comparable rate for October 2012 was 5.7 percent.
The national not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was 7.0 percent, unchanged from September, down from 7.3 percent in August, and down from 7.5 percent in October 2012.
Parish rates are not adjusted for seasonal factors such as holidays and weather.
There were 21,705 people employed in St. Mary Parish in October, down from 21,785 in September and 22,114 in October 2012, the commission reported.
The number of people looking for work in October was 1,493, down from 1,606 in September and 1,554 in October 2012.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force — an estimate of the total number of people working plus those looking for work — was 2,090,683 in October, down 14,536 over the year and 13,623 over the month.
The estimated number of employed was 1,962,445 in October, down 21,930 over the year and 4,844 over the month. The number of unemployed in October was 128,238, up 7,394 over the year but down 8,779 over the month.
The BLS estimates the civilian labor force and unemployment rates from a survey of 750 households. A separate survey of 6,000 employers spread across industries and the state is used to estimate nonfarm employment.
Statewide, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment was 1,972,800 in October, up 30,700 over the year.
Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 36,300 over the year, to 1,623,800 in October.
Not seasonally adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparing them to the state. Seasonally adjusted data, on the other hand, are useful for comparisons among states and the nation.
The release Thursday of not seasonally adjusted employment data includes preliminary October 2013 data and revised data for September 2013. As a result of the partial federal government shutdown in October, BLS did not release preliminary September 2013 data last month.
Metro unemployment rates were:
—Alexandria: 6.2 percent in October up from 5.7 percent in October 2012.
—Baton Rouge: 5.8 percent in October up from 5.5 percent
—Houma: 4.2 percent in October up from 4 percent in October 2012.
—Lafayette: 4.6 percent in October up from 4.2 percent in October 2012.
—Lake Charles: 5.4 percent in October up from 5.1 percent in October 2012.
—Monroe: 6.5 percent in October up from 6.2 percent in October 2012.
—New Orleans: 6.3 percent in October, steady from 5.9 percent in October 2012.
—Shreveport: 6.6 percent in October up from 6.1 percent in October 2012.