LaSalle Parish joined the rest of the state in seeing their unemployment numbers rise during the month of June, as released last week by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Across the state, parish jobless figures rose, some substantially, as Louisiana’s unemployment rate rose from 3.6% in May to 4.4% in June.

LaSalle continues to be among the lowest of all 64 parishes and for June, it recorded the fourth lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.3%. During May, LaSalle’s rate was 2.6%.

The lowest jobless rate was West Feliciana at 2.7% followed by Livingston and Cameron at 3.0% and Ascension at 3.1%.

LaSalle continues to maintain the lowest unemployment rate in all North and Central Louisiana, a title it has held for many years. LaSalle led the state with the lowest unemployment rate for approximately three years from the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Neighboring parishes had the following rates recorded for June: Grant, 3.5%; Rapides, 3.5%; Caldwell, 4.1%; Catahoula, 4.7%; and Winn, 4.9%.

The state’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment for June 2023 is 1,961,200 jobs, an increase of 400 jobs from the May 2023 revised estimate of 1,960,800 jobs. Compared to June 2022, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased by 50,000 jobs. The series has seen 27 consecutive months with an over-the-year gain. This is the highest nonfarm employment level for the state since March 2020.

Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted private sector employment for June 2023 is 1,645,500 jobs, an increase of 1,400 jobs from the May 2023 revised estimate of 1,644,100 jobs. Compared to June 2022, seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 41,100 jobs. The series has added jobs over the year for 27 consecutive months.

Major industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs over the month:

• Information gained 1,000 jobs from May 2023.

• Construction gained 700 jobs from May 2023.

• Private Education and Health Services gained 600 jobs from May 2023.

Major industries that showed the largest gains for seasonally adjusted jobs over the year:

• Private Education and Health Services gained 16,900 jobs from June 2022.

“I am ecstatic that we continue to break records with the seasonally adjusted number of employed being the highest in June and the second highest in series history,” said the Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary, Ava Cates. “This is a testament that we continue to put Louisianans back to work. Currently, our HiRE website has over 12,000 job openings and we continuously host job fairs across the state to help job seekers.”

• Construction gained 9,700 jobs from June 2022.

• Government gained 8,900 jobs from June 2022.

Among Louisiana’s MSAs in June 2023, seasonally adjusted data shows:

• Alexandria (63,600 jobs) showed no change from May 2023, but gained 1,900 jobs from June 2022.

• Baton Rouge (425,300 jobs) added 400 jobs from May 2023 and gained 18,900 jobs from June 2022.

• Hammond (49,000 jobs) added 300 jobs from May 2023 and gained 1,600 jobs from June 2022.

• Houma (81,600 jobs) showed no change from May 2023, but gained 200 jobs from June 2022.

• Lafayette (204,000 jobs) added 200 jobs from May 2023 and gained 3,900 jobs from June 2022.

• Lake Charles (97,200 jobs) added 400 jobs from May 2023 and gained 2,900 jobs from June 2022.

• Monroe (78,400 jobs) lost 100 jobs from May 2023, but gained 1,200 jobs from June 2022.

• New Orleans (567,700 jobs) lost 1,000 jobs from May 2023, but gained 13,200 jobs from June 2022.

• Shreveport (178,400 jobs) lost 100 jobs from May 2023, but gained 3,300 jobs from June 2022.

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and parish unemployment rates for June 2023 will be released on July 28, 2023.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June 2023 is 4.4 percent. This is the lowest rate for the month of June in series history. The rate shows an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the May 2023 rate of 3.9 percent but a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from June 2022.

Since May 2023, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals has decreased by 3,824 to 2,020,568 in June 2023. This is the second-highest number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals for the month of June in series history. Compared to June 2022, the number of not seasonally adjusted employed individuals increased by 6,270.

Since May 2023, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals has increased by 11,304 to 93,457 in June 2023. This is the lowest number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals for the month of June in the series. Compared to June 2022, the number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 1,173.

Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment for June 2023 is 1,956,000, a decrease of 7,500 jobs from the revised May 2023 estimate of 1,963,500 jobs. Compared to June 2022, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 53,300 jobs. This shows overthe- month employment gains in 10 of the last 12 months and 27 consecutive months with an over-the-year gain.

Louisiana’s not seasonally adjusted total private employment for June 2023 is 1,645,000, an increase of 700 jobs from the May 2023 revised estimate of 1,644,300. Compared to June 2022, not seasonally adjusted private sector employment increased by 45,100 jobs. This shows over-themonth employment gains in 14 of the last 18 months and 27 consecutive months with an over-the-year gain.