BATON ROUGE – Data released today by the Louisiana Workforce Commission shows that Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2023 is 3.6 percent. This is tied for the second lowest rate for the month of October in series history. The rate shows no change from the September 2023 rate but an increase of 0.4 percentage points from October 2022.
Since September 2023, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals has increased by 1,158 to 75,571 in October 2023. This is the 3rd lowest number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals for the month of October in series history. Compared to October 2022, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals increased by 8,021.
Since September 2023, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals has decreased by 1,938 to 2,017,083 in October 2023. This is the 4th highest number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals for the month of October in series history. Compared to October 2022, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals decreased by 3,123.
| October 2023 State & MSA Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate | |||||
| Area | October | September | October | Over-the-Month | Over-the-Year |
| 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | Change | Change | |
| Louisiana | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| Alexandria MSA | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| Baton Rouge MSA | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Hammond MSA | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Houma MSA | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Lafayette MSA | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Lake Charles MSA | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Monroe MSA | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| New Orleans MSA | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| Shreveport MSA | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 0.5 |
Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment for October 2023 is 1,985,700, an increase of 9,800 jobs from the revised September 2023 estimate of 1,975,900 jobs. Compared to October 2022, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 42,900 jobs. This shows over-the-month employment gains in 13 of the last 16 months and 31 consecutive months with an over-the-year gain.
| State and MSA Not Seasonally Adjusted Total Nonfarm Employment | |||||
| Area | October | September | October | Over-the-Month | Over-the-Year |
| 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | Change | Change | |
| Louisiana | 1,985,700 | 1,975,900 | 1,942,800 | 9,800 | 42,900 |
| Alexandria MSA | 63,700 | 63,500 | 63,000 | 200 | 700 |
| Baton Rouge MSA | 428,800 | 426,400 | 417,000 | 2,400 | 11,800 |
| Hammond MSA | 49,100 | 48,900 | 48,100 | 200 | 1,000 |
| Houma MSA | 82,300 | 81,700 | 82,300 | 600 | 0 |
| Lafayette MSA | 205,600 | 204,400 | 203,100 | 1,200 | 2,500 |
| Lake Charles MSA | 98,800 | 98,200 | 95,900 | 600 | 2,900 |
| Monroe MSA | 79,000 | 78,900 | 78,200 | 100 | 800 |
| New Orleans MSA | 578,700 | 573,400 | 562,700 | 5,300 | 16,000 |
| Shreveport MSA | 179,200 | 178,600 | 176,700 | 600 | 2,500 |