New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, Louisiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for New Orleans rose 0.1 percentage points in December 2011 to 7.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in New Orleans peaked in May 2011 at 8.4% and is now 1.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.9% in September 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare New Orleans unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Louisiana	6.8%	-0.1	-0.9
New Orleans	7.1%	+0.1	-0.6

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: New Orleans, Louisiana, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

New Orleans, Louisiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in New Orleans peaked in May 2011 at 45,241. There are now 7,103 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 37,392 in September 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 746. New Orleans employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in New Orleans, Louisiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
New Orleans	38,138	+126	-4,298

Number of Unemployed Persons

New Orleans, Louisiana Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Louisiana Unemployment Rate	New Orleans Unemployment Rate	New Orleans Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	6.8%	7.1%	38,138
November 2011	8.7%	6.9%	7.0%	38,012
October 2011	8.9%	7.0%	7.0%	37,892
September 2011	9.0%	6.9%	6.9%	37,392
August 2011	9.1%	7.2%	7.2%	38,655
July 2011	9.1%	7.6%	7.6%	40,994
June 2011	9.1%	7.8%	7.9%	42,708
May 2011	9.0%	8.2%	8.4%	45,241
April 2011	9.0%	8.1%	8.3%	45,075
March 2011	8.9%	8.1%	8.2%	44,978
February 2011	9.0%	7.9%	8.0%	43,829
January 2011	9.1%	7.8%	7.8%	42,784