Unemployment in the Baton Rouge area fell to 5% in October, down one percentage point from the previous month but unchanged from one year ago.
According to the latest unemployment survey from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, not seasonally adjusted data show that unemployment rates fell in every MSA in Louisiana for the month of October.
The Baton Rouge area, though, is one of three metro areas where the unemployment rate is lower than the state’s overall rate of 5.9%. The Lake Charles (4.7%) and New Orleans (5.4%) areas are the other MSAs with lower rates.
Not only were more people working in the Baton Rouge area in October than in the previous month, the Louisiana Workforce Commission says the area added more jobs during the month and is leading the state in jobs created for the year.
According to a separate survey of employers, the Baton Rouge area has added 15,000 jobs over the year and 6,400 jobs during the month of October.
Baton Rouge, the commission says, has seen job gains every month since January 2011, with total nonfarm employment for the MSA reaching an estimated 422,400 in October.
The construction sector helped drive some of the growth, adding 3,200 jobs for a new high of 58,000 in October, the commission says. Over the year, the sector added 5,600—its 12th annual gain.
Trade, transportation and utilities increased by 3,200 jobs. The retail sector added 3,000 jobs.
Education and health services rose by 2,300 jobs while professional and business services added 2,200 jobs over one year ago.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission has the full jobs report.
