January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 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 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Louisiana Employment Snapshot
In January, Louisiana added 6,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 1,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 19,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Louisiana’s private sector added 5,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 100 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Louisiana fell by 2,667, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,964.
Louisiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.1 percent in January from 58.2 percent and is tied for 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.
Louisiana Payroll Employment
Louisiana added 6,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 1,000 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Louisiana added 5,200 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 100 jobs. Louisiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 24th 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 January were Leisure and Hospitality (4,300) and Government (1,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (6,300) and Education and Health Services (6,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-1,900) and Mining and Logging (-2,200).
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 fell to 58.1 percent in January from 58.2 percent in the prior month.
Louisiana is tied for 45th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 61 percent in January 2015, and the 10-year low was 55.2 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.