New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for New Orleans rose 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Louisiana rate. The unemployment rate in New Orleans peaked in April 2020 at 17.6% and is now 13.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.5% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare New Orleans 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 |
| New Orleans | 3.8% | +0.1 | 0.0 |
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 April 2020 at 100,042. There are now 77,529 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 20,489 in August 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,024. New Orleans employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in New Orleans, Louisiana) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | May 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 22,513 | +567 | +309 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
New Orleans, Louisiana Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
Louisiana Unemployment Rate |
New Orleans Unemployment Rate |
New Orleans Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2023 |
3.6% | — | — | — |
| May 2023 |
3.7% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 22,513 |
| April 2023 |
3.4% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 21,946 |
| March 2023 |
3.5% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 21,690 |
| February 2023 |
3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 21,462 |
| January 2023 |
3.4% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 21,052 |
| December 2022 |
3.5% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 21,117 |
| November 2022 |
3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 21,046 |
| October 2022 |
3.7% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 20,824 |
| September 2022 |
3.5% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 20,570 |
| August 2022 |
3.7% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 20,489 |
| July 2022 |
3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 20,742 |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Unemployment
- / Louisiana
- / New Orleans
