Department of Numbers

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Baton Rouge rose 0.1 percentage points in March 2012 to 7.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in Baton Rouge peaked in May 2011 at 8.9% and is now 1.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.9% in September 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Baton Rouge unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2012 Month/Month Year/Year
National 8.2% -0.1 -0.7
Louisiana 7.1% +0.1 -0.4
Baton Rouge 7.4% +0.1 -1.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, National

Baton Rouge, Louisiana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Baton Rouge peaked in May 2011 at 33,331. There are now 5,520 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 25,202 in September 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,609. Baton Rouge employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2012 Month/Month Year/Year
Baton Rouge 27,811 +705 -4,838

Number of Unemployed Persons

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Louisiana
Unemployment Rate
Baton Rouge
Unemployment Rate
Baton Rouge
Unemployed
April
2012
8.1% 7.1%
March
2012
8.2% 7.1% 7.4% 27,811
February
2012
8.3% 7.0% 7.3% 27,106
January
2012
8.3% 6.9% 7.0% 25,795
December
2011
8.5% 7.0% 7.1% 25,927
November
2011
8.7% 7.1% 7.0% 25,704
October
2011
8.9% 7.1% 7.0% 25,543
September
2011
9.0% 7.2% 6.9% 25,202
August
2011
9.1% 7.3% 7.2% 26,371
July
2011
9.1% 7.3% 7.7% 28,533
June
2011
9.1% 7.3% 8.2% 30,480
May
2011
9.0% 7.4% 8.9% 33,331
April
2011
9.0% 7.4% 8.8% 33,122

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.