Department of Numbers

Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lafayette rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in Lafayette peaked in April 2020 at 12.0% and is now 8.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.1% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Lafayette unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Louisiana 3.5% +0.2 -0.1
Lafayette 3.3% +0.1 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December 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 April 2020 at 24,255. There are now 17,174 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,550 in August 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 531.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lafayette 7,081 +264 -310

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lafayette, Louisiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Louisiana
Unemployment Rate
Lafayette
Unemployment Rate
Lafayette
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.5% 3.3% 7,081
October
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.2% 6,817
September
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.1% 6,587
August
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.1% 6,550
July
2023
3.5% 3.4% 3.2% 6,831
June
2023
3.6% 3.6% 3.4% 7,362
May
2023
3.7% 3.6% 3.5% 7,523
April
2023
3.4% 3.6% 3.4% 7,396
March
2023
3.5% 3.6% 3.4% 7,401
February
2023
3.6% 3.6% 3.4% 7,412
January
2023
3.4% 3.5% 3.4% 7,300

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.