United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Louisiana Employment Snapshot
In May, Louisiana lost 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 6,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Louisiana ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Louisiana’s private sector lost 4,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 5,000 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Louisiana fell by 1,040, and over the past 12 months it fell by 15,138.
Louisiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.6 percent in May from 58.8 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Louisiana Payroll Employment
Louisiana lost 3,400 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Louisiana added 6,700 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Louisiana ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Louisiana lost 4,000 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Louisiana added 5,000 jobs. Louisiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Louisiana ranks 49th 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 May were Financial Activities (1,400) and Government (600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,200) and Education and Health Services (-2,400).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (6,500) and Government (3,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,700) and Financial Activities (-2,300).
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 58.6 percent in May from 58.8 percent in the prior month.
Louisiana ranks 44th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 61.2 percent in November 2014, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.