Department of Numbers

Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lafayette rose 0.1 percentage points in March 2013 to 4.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.6 percentage points lower than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in Lafayette peaked in October 2010 at 6.4% and is now 1.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.0% in December 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Lafayette unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
National 7.6% -0.1 -0.6
Louisiana 6.2% +0.2 -0.6
Lafayette 4.6% +0.1 -0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2013 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lafayette, Louisiana, National

Lafayette, Louisiana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lafayette peaked in November 2010 at 8,793. There are now 2,255 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 5,721 in December 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 817. Lafayette employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lafayette, Louisiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
Lafayette 6,538 +126 -721

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Louisiana
Unemployment Rate
Lafayette
Unemployment Rate
Lafayette
Unemployed
April
2013
7.5% 6.5%
March
2013
7.6% 6.2% 4.6% 6,538
February
2013
7.7% 6.0% 4.5% 6,412
January
2013
7.9% 5.9% 4.4% 6,225
December
2012
7.8% 5.6% 4.0% 5,721
November
2012
7.8% 5.7% 4.1% 5,815
October
2012
7.9% 5.9% 4.2% 5,960
September
2012
7.8% 6.1% 4.4% 6,147
August
2012
8.1% 6.4% 4.5% 6,367
July
2012
8.2% 6.6% 4.7% 6,602
June
2012
8.2% 6.7% 4.8% 6,833
May
2012
8.2% 6.8% 5.0% 7,023
April
2012
8.1% 6.8% 5.1% 7,157

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.