Lake Charles, Louisiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lake Charles fell 0.0 percentage points in July 2019 to 3.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points lower than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in Lake Charles peaked in October 2010 at 8.4% and is now 4.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.4% in May 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Lake Charles unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.2
Louisiana	4.3%	0.0	-0.7
Lake Charles	3.5%	0.0	-0.4

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with July 2019 data as August metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lake Charles, Louisiana, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lake Charles, Louisiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lake Charles peaked in November 2010 at 7,665. There are now 3,636 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,910 in May 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 119. Lake Charles employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lake Charles, Louisiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Lake Charles	4,029	+81	-461

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lake Charles, Louisiana Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Louisiana Unemployment Rate	Lake Charles Unemployment Rate	Lake Charles Unemployed
August 2019	3.7%	—	—	—
July 2019	3.7%	4.3%	3.5%	4,029
June 2019	3.7%	4.3%	3.5%	3,948
May 2019	3.6%	4.4%	3.4%	3,910
April 2019	3.6%	4.5%	3.5%	3,973
March 2019	3.8%	4.7%	3.6%	4,133
February 2019	3.8%	4.9%	3.7%	4,257
January 2019	4.0%	4.9%	3.7%	4,264
December 2018	3.9%	4.9%	3.8%	4,279
November 2018	3.7%	4.9%	3.8%	4,268
October 2018	3.8%	4.9%	3.8%	4,274
September 2018	3.7%	4.9%	3.8%	4,336