St. Mary Parish unemployment rate up

Louisiana’s civilian labor force grew by 83,212 over the year to 2,185,988 in November, according to not seasonally adjusted November data released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The number of people employed in the labor force was 2,047,692, the second-highest mark on record. The number of people unemployed but seeking work was 138,296, based on estimates from a monthly survey of 750 Louisiana households by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In a news release, LWC Executive Director Curt Eysinks said, “We’ve seen strong labor force growth in recent months, which is what Louisiana employers need.”
He added, “Our forecasts shows robust job growth in much of the state for the foreseeable future.”
In St. Mary Parish, the November unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, up from 6.4 percent in October and 5.3 percent a year ago.
There were 36,654 people employed in St. Mary Parish in November, down from 36,884 working in October, but up from 35,983 working a year ago.
There were 2,552 people looking for jobs in November, up from 2,434 in October and 1,942 a year ago.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployed rate was 6.3 percent in November, up 1.3 percentage points from a year earlier and an increase of a 0.4 percentage point from October 2014. The national rate in November was 5.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent over the year and unchanged from the previous month.
Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates rose over the year in Louisiana’s eight metro areas as follows:
—Alexandria: 6.8 percent, up from 5.2 percent in November 2013;
—Baton Rouge: 5.9 percent, up from 4.8 percent;
—Houma, 4.5 percent, up from 3.4 percent;
—Lafayette: 4.9 percent, up from 3.8 percent;
—Lake Charles: 5.6 percent, up from 4.6 percent;
—Monroe: 6.8 percent, up from 5.3 percent;
—New Orleans: 6.4 percent, up from 5.0 percent; and
—Shreveport: 6.8 percent, up from 5.6 percent.
A separate BLS survey of 6,000 employers across industries and the state found total nonfarm employment was 1,998,300 in November, not seasonally adjusted data show. That figure reflects an increase of 18,700 jobs over the year.
Private employers added 24,900 jobs over the year, not seasonally adjusted data show. Professional and business services added 8,000 jobs over the year, leading all sectors. Other sectors with strong gains included education and health services, with 5,700 more jobs; construction, which was up 4,600 jobs; trade, transportation, and utilities with 4,200 jobs added; and leisure and hospitality, which added 2,400 jobs.
The government sector lost 6,200 jobs over the year, the most of any sector, including the loss of 4,100 state jobs and 2,000 local government jobs. Other sectors with over-the-year declines were information, which lost 1,100 jobs, mining and logging, down 600, and other services, which was down 400.
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.