December 2024
Released January 28, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.
In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.
Louisiana Employment Snapshot
In December, Louisiana added 2,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 1,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 20,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Louisiana is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Louisiana’s private sector added 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 900 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Louisiana fell by 3,730, and over the past 12 months it fell by 17,356.
Louisiana’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 58.4 percent in December and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Louisiana Payroll Employment
Louisiana added 2,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Louisiana added 1,700 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Louisiana is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Louisiana added 1,600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Louisiana added 900 jobs. Louisiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Louisiana is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,500) and Education and Health Services (1,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-800) and Construction (-1,100).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (11,800) and Government (7,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-2,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,200).
Louisiana Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Louisiana remained unchanged at 58.4 percent in December.
Louisiana ranks 43rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 61.1 percent in December 2014, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.