March Data Shows Lafayette Had The Lowest Unemployment Rate In Louisiana

Figures from Louisiana's Labor Department show that Lafayette is the best in the state when is comes to employing people right now.  The latest information from Louisiana's Workforce Commission show that Lafayette's unemployment rate for March of this year is at 4.8% which is the lowest of the metropolitan areas in Louisiana. 

As far as unemployment rates by region, the Louisiana Workforce Commission's data also shows that the MSA region, which includes St. Martin Parish, is at 5.0% which is the second lowest rate in the state.

In checking the figures for March, there were 163,300 nonfarm jobs in the Lafayette MSA.  That figure is an increase of some 14,000 jobs from March of last year.  In addition, the goods-producing sector showed an increase of 4,600 jobs, and the service-providing sector has added 9,500 jobs.

“Lafayette Parish’s unemployment numbers have shown steady improvement since mid-2011 and the first quarter of 2012 will be one of the best we’ve seen in two years,” says Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority. “Shrinking unemployment numbers along with a growing non-farm workforce, illustrate the confidence of local businesses to increase and invest in their workforce as the country begins to emerge from the recession.”