BATON ROUGE – Preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 1,000 jobs from 1,985,600 in August 2018 to 1,986,600 in August 2019. From July 2019, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased over the month by 4,800 jobs. This is the second consecutive month that seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment has added jobs over the month.
Meanwhile, the Shreveport Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) lost 3,300 jobs from August 2018. The MSA also lost 200 jobs from July 2019.
BLS July 2019 figures show that Louisiana seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment showed a revised over the month increase of 800 jobs from 1,981,000 in June 2019 to 1,981,800 in July 2019.
Seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 4,000 jobs from 1,655,800 in August 2018 to 1,659,800 in August 2019. This is the 18th straight month that seasonally adjusted private sector employment has added jobs over the year. From July 2019, seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 4,000 jobs. This is the second consecutive month that seasonally adjusted private sector employment has added jobs over the month.
For the fifth straight month, Louisiana’s economy remained at full employment with a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.3 percent. Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has decreased 0.6 percentage points from August 2018’s rate of 4.9 percent. Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains unchanged from July 2019.
The number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 13,694 from 103,867 in August 2018 to 90,173 in August 2019. From July 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 75. The number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 7,679 from 1,996,417 in August 2018 to 2,004,096 in August 2019. From July 2019, the number of seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 1,500. Total employed totals, unlike nonfarm and private figures, include workers in both agricultural and nonagricultural industries.
Industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs:
- Education and Health Services gained 11,100 jobs from August 2018, and 2,900 jobs from July 2019. The Education and Health Services sector is at a series high for employment at 326,500 jobs.
- Health Care and Social Assistance sub-sector gained 10,500 jobs from August 2018 and 2,900 jobs from July 2019. The Health Care and Social Assistance sector is also at a series high for employment at 279,300 jobs.
The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 11,734 from 114,224 in August 2018 to 102,490 in August 2019. From July 2019, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 7,679. The number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 2,249 from 1,985,692 in August 2018 to 1,987,941 in August 2019.
Not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 1,500 jobs from 1,978,700 in August 2018 to 1,980,200 in August 2019. From July 2019 not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 7,600 jobs.
Not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 3,700 jobs from 1,659,900 in August 2018 to 1,663,600 in August 2019. From July 2019 not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 4,200 jobs.
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage points from 5.4 percent in August 2018 to 4.9 percent in August 2019. From July 2019, Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.3 percentage points.
