Data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Louisiana’s unemployment rate decreased for the month of May to 4.1%. Louisiana Workforce Commission Director of Research and Economic Analysis Emily Epps says there were 86 thousand individuals unemployed last month, and the state is recording over 100 thousand vacant jobs, which will likely remain unfilled..
“The people that are unemployed in this setting are typically moving between jobs,” she says. “They’re not necessarily completely available for the open jobs that exist.”
Baton Rouge added 200 jobs from April and almost 7 thousand jobs from May 2023, which Epps says is expected. What does come as a bit of a surprise, she says, is Alexandria’s job growth from April to May.
“Alexandria joins the crowd this month too, with 300 jobs,” she explains. “They were leading the way and gaining jobs over the month for the MSAs [Metropolitan Statistical Area].”
Alexandria also added 600 jobs from May 2023 to now. However, the Monroe area lost 600 jobs from April and 1500 jobs from May 2023, which Epps says is concerning to the Workforce Commission.
“It was unusual, for me, to see that they had that low drop, but it makes me want to make sure that I have them on my radar moving forward, kind of honing in on that area of the state,” she adds.
Major industries that showed the most seasonally adjusted jobs gained are financial activities from April to May and construction from May 2023 to 24.
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