Department of Numbers

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Baton Rouge fell 0.0 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points lower than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in Baton Rouge peaked in April 2020 at 12.5% and is now 9.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in June 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Baton Rouge unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Louisiana 3.6% 0.0 +0.1
Baton Rouge 3.3% 0.0 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June 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 April 2020 at 48,710. There are now 34,179 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 13,543 in August 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 988. Baton Rouge employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Baton Rouge 14,531 +312 +331

Number of Unemployed Persons

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Louisiana
Unemployment Rate
Baton Rouge
Unemployment Rate
Baton Rouge
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.6% 3.3% 14,531
April
2023
3.4% 3.6% 3.3% 14,219
March
2023
3.5% 3.6% 3.2% 14,168
February
2023
3.6% 3.6% 3.2% 14,119
January
2023
3.4% 3.5% 3.2% 13,786
December
2022
3.5% 3.5% 3.2% 13,910
November
2022
3.6% 3.6% 3.2% 13,884
October
2022
3.7% 3.6% 3.2% 13,778
September
2022
3.5% 3.6% 3.2% 13,630
August
2022
3.7% 3.5% 3.2% 13,543
July
2022
3.5% 3.5% 3.2% 13,608

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.