Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lafayette fell 0.0 percentage points in March 2012 to 5.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.8 percentage points lower than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in Lafayette peaked in April 2011 at 6.7% and is now 1.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.1% in January 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Lafayette 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
Lafayette	5.3%	0.0	-1.3

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: Lafayette, Louisiana, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lafayette peaked in May 2011 at 9,103. There are now 1,544 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,986 in September 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 573. Lafayette employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lafayette, Louisiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
Lafayette	7,559	+193	-1,418

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Louisiana Unemployment Rate	Lafayette Unemployment Rate	Lafayette Unemployed
April 2012	8.1%	7.1%	—	—
March 2012	8.2%	7.1%	5.3%	7,559
February 2012	8.3%	7.0%	5.3%	7,366
January 2012	8.3%	6.9%	5.1%	7,011
December 2011	8.5%	7.0%	5.2%	7,067
November 2011	8.7%	7.1%	5.2%	7,110
October 2011	8.9%	7.1%	5.2%	7,082
September 2011	9.0%	7.2%	5.2%	6,986
August 2011	9.1%	7.3%	5.4%	7,231
July 2011	9.1%	7.3%	5.8%	7,755
June 2011	9.1%	7.3%	6.2%	8,267
May 2011	9.0%	7.4%	6.7%	9,103
April 2011	9.0%	7.4%	6.7%	9,062