Tri-Parish employment held steady in March compared to a year ago, according to a report from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline workforce — those employed and seeking jobs — totaled 68,896 in March, down from 69,031 in March 2017.
St. Landry Parish’s total workforce in March was 31,995, down from 32,193 in March 2017.
Evangeline Parish’s March workforce was 12,712, down from 12,678 in March 2017.
Acadia Parish’s March workforce was 24,189, up form 24, 160 in March 2017.
Parish unemployment rates in March were:
— St. Landry Parish, 5.7 percent, 30,157 employed and 1,838 unemployed. In March 2017, the unemployment rate was 6.9 percent with 29,965 employed and 2,228 unemployed.
— Acadia Parish, 4.9 percent unemployed, 23,010 employed and 1,179 unemployed. In March 2017, Acadia Parish’s jobless rate was 6.2 percent with 22,651 employed and 1,509 unemployed.
— Evangeline Parish, 5 percent, 12,074 employed and 638 unemployed. In March 2017, the parish’s jobless rate was 5.9 percent with 11,934 employed and 744 unemployed.
The parish job numbers are adjusted for season factors such as weather and holidays.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted nonfarm job sector added 12,500 jobs from March 2017 to 1,982,800. This is the sixth straight over-the-year increase. From February 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 13,900 jobs. This is the largest over-the-month gain for the month of March since 2010.
The not seasonally adjusted private sector added 15,300 jobs from March 2017 to 1,655,800. Private sector employment is defined as nonfarm employment minus government jobs. The not seasonally adjusted private sector has also added jobs over the year for six straight months. From February 2018, the private sector added 15,100 jobs.
From March 2017, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 52,373 to 2,046,339. From February 2018, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals showed an increase of 3,204. From March 2017, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 18,600 to 92,757.
From March 2017, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 1.0 percent to 4.3 percent.
“Gaining 13,900 not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs, the largest over-the-month gain for the month of March since 2010, is a significant indicator of the positive direction in which our job market is heading,” said Ava Dejoie, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. “This also highlights the reality that as the supply of skilled worker tightens and jobs become more technical, it is important that workers and job-seekers continue their focus on developing their skills through workforce development programs such as the LWC’s Registered Apprenticeship and Incumbent Worker Training Program.”
The not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, or the number of people who are employed in addition to those looking for work, increased by 33,773 from March 2017 to 2,139,096. From February 2018, the not seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased by 10,309.
All nine metropolitan statistical area unemployment rates declined over the year. Not seasonally adjusted March unemployment rates for the Lafayette statistical areas (MSAs) are as follows:
— Lafayette: 4.6 percent, up from 4.3 percent in February, but down from 6.1 percent from March 2017.
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