St. Mary unemployment up slightly in May

St. Mary Parish’s unemployment rate was up slightly in May on a drop in employment of 172 jobs, according to figures from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
The May unemployment rate for St. Mary was 4.3%, up from 4.2% in April and from 4.2% in May 2023.
The number of employed people in May was 17,729, down from 17,901 in April and 18,066 a year ago.
The number of unemployed people rose by 23 to 806.
In Assumption, May joblessness was at 4%, up from 3.5% in April and down from 4.5% in May 2023.
Assumption employment was at 8,346 in May, down 102 from April and 20 from May 203. The number of unemployed was up 20 month over month to 346.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 4.1% in May, compared to a national rate of 4.0%.
Louisiana lost 3,400 jobs between April and May but gained 5,900 from May 2023.
The big gainer in May was the financial activities sector, which picked up 1,400 jobs. The sector was down 2,300 jobs year over year.
Government added 600 jobs in May.
Private education and health services fell by 2,400 jobs in May, and leisure and hospitality was down 2,200.