Parish jobless rate dips for 3rd straight month

St. Mary Parish’s jobless rate dropped for the third consecutive month from August to September.

The parish unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in September, decreasing from 7.2 percent in August, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. July’s jobless rate was 7.9 percent, down from 8 percent in June.

Earlier this month, Parish Economic Development Director Frank Fink said the region was still lacking labor as workers have found jobs in other places and that area companies are looking for workers, such as welders and pipefitters.

The parish’s September workforce totaled 19,818 St. Mary residents with 18,512 people employed and 1,306 people unemployed. The workforce declined by 253 people compared to August when 18,618 residents were employed and 1,453 people unemployed.

July saw a parish workforce of 20,224 residents with 18,627 people employed and 1,597 people unemployed. June had a 20,222-person workforce composed of 18,595 employed residents and 1,627 unemployed residents.

A year ago, September 2017’s workforce comprised 20,308 residents with 18,814 people employed and 1,494 unemployed.

Lafourche, Terrebonne, Iberia, Assumption, St. Martin, Lafayette and Vermilion parishes all had decreases in their workforce and unemployment rates from August to September.

All nine metropolitan statistical areas also saw declines in their jobless rates for the second straight month, a workforce commission news release said.

Statewide, nonfarm employment increased by 16,200 jobs from September 2017 to 1.98 million. This is the 12th straight over the year increase. From August, nonfarm jobs increased by 3,800. Private sector employment has increased by 18,600 jobs since September 2017 to 1.66 million. This is also the 12th straight over the year increase, the release said.

From August, the number of unemployed individuals in Louisiana decreased by 12,149. The number of not seasonally adjusted unemployed individuals decreased by 314 to 105,069 since September 2017, the release stated.

All employment statistics listed are not seasonally adjusted.

St. Mary’s September sales and use tax collections were promising in September. Those collections of $2.97 million were up 12.1 percent from the $2.65 million collected during September 2017. Excluding collections made as a result of financial audits, collections increased 7.4 percent.

In August, collections totaled $2.76 million, a 2.7 percent increase from the $2.69 million collected in August 2017. Excluding collections made as a result of financial audits, collections rose 6.4 percent.

July sales tax collections declined by 10.4 percent from the $3.53 million collected in July 2017. Excluding collections from financial audits, collections dropped 11.1 percent.

During June, collections totaled $2.97 million, up 8.2 percent from the $2.74 million collected during June 2017. Without collections made as a result of financial audits, collections rose 5.2 percent.