The Baton Rouge area added 6,600 jobs in last month compared to August 2017, the largest total increase in jobs in Louisiana and the sixth consecutive month of gains for the region.
Seven of Louisiana’s nine metro areas added jobs over the year in August.
Louisiana has gained 16,600 jobs since August 2017, bringing the total number of nonfarm jobs in the state to 1.98 million, according to figures released today by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
The Capital Region’s nonfarm employment rose to 412,100 jobs in August. Baton Rouge gained 2,400 construction jobs over the year; 1,400 education and health service jobs; and 1,100 government jobs. It lost 400 leisure and hospitality jobs.
The area’s unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, was 5%, up from 4.9% in August 2017.
