Parishes with the highest unemployment in Louisiana

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of parishes with the highest unemployment rates in Louisiana, using BLS data. Parishes are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that parish, though some ties may remain. Parish-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the parishes with the highest unemployment in Louisiana.

#50. St. Tammany Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 118,937 people (4,753 unemployed)

#49. Rapides Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 54,533 people (2,259 unemployed)

#48. Calcasieu Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 91,048 people (3,752 unemployed)

#47. Grant Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,067 people (340 unemployed)

#46. Beauregard Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,658 people (630 unemployed)

#45. St. Martin Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,908 people (941 unemployed)

#44. Jackson Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,218 people (314 unemployed)

#43. Acadia Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,678 people (1,042 unemployed)

#42. Vermilion Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,852 people (1,050 unemployed)

#41. Pointe Coupee Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,742 people (436 unemployed)

#40. Plaquemines Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,748 people (439 unemployed)

#39. Caldwell Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,629 people (167 unemployed)

#38. Caddo Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 99,620 people (4,579 unemployed)

#37. Red River Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,605 people (171 unemployed)

#36. Allen Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,058 people (375 unemployed)

#35. Sabine Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,814 people (417 unemployed)

#34. Natchitoches Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,959 people (794 unemployed)

#33. Washington Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,487 people (829 unemployed)

#32. St. Bernard Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,782 people (937 unemployed)

#31. Ouachita Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 68,387 people (3,204 unemployed)

#30. Catahoula Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,584 people (171 unemployed)

#29. Iberville Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,841 people (664 unemployed)

#28. Avoyelles Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,213 people (684 unemployed)

#27. Lincoln Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,309 people (1,013 unemployed)

#26. Iberia Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,305 people (1,320 unemployed)

#25. Orleans Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 174,199 people (8,365 unemployed)

#24. Union Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,913 people (436 unemployed)

#23. Evangeline Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,878 people (577 unemployed)

#22. Jefferson Davis Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,211 people (597 unemployed)

#21. De Soto Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,758 people (539 unemployed)

#20. Tangipahoa Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 57,702 people (2,866 unemployed)

#19. Assumption Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,822 people (452 unemployed)

#18. Bienville Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,110 people (265 unemployed)

#17. Claiborne Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,263 people (272 unemployed)

#16. Richland Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,832 people (408 unemployed)

#15. Webster Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,945 people (719 unemployed)

#14. St. John the Baptist Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,853 people (972 unemployed)

#13. St. Landry Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,988 people (1,605 unemployed)

#12. St. Helena Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,230 people (224 unemployed)

#11. St. James Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,842 people (465 unemployed)

#10. Vernon Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,631 people (836 unemployed)

#9. Winn Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,609 people (248 unemployed)

#8. St. Mary Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,971 people (971 unemployed)

#7. Concordia Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,889 people (403 unemployed)

#6. Franklin Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,062 people (425 unemployed)

#5. Morehouse Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,408 people (616 unemployed)

#4. Madison Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,546 people (246 unemployed)

#3. West Carroll Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,431 people (254 unemployed)

#2. Tensas Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,290 people (97 unemployed)

#1. East Carroll Parish

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,664 people (156 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.