Parishes with the highest unemployment in Louisiana

The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7.

Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the federal workforce.

Federal government employment fell by 10,000 in February, pushing up total cuts to the federal workforce. In the first two months of 2025, 62,530 federal workers were let go. However, the most recent cuts, including the Department of Education's workforce getting slashed by nearly half, have not yet appeared in official jobs data. Retail employment also fell by 6,000.

The broader unemployment index, known as the U-6, which also includes laborers working part-time because they can't find full-time work, and those who want to work but have given up searching, rose to 8%, its highest since October 2021.

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 January 2025, 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: Jobs report shows softening labor market

February's job growth of 151,000 fell below economists' expected gains of 160,000, showing the labor market is cooling faster than predicted. Experts say many companies weighing policy changes and economic uncertainty are deciding it's safer to hold off on hiring decisions for now.

"If you were a company and you were saying, 'I'm looking to expand, or I'm looking to hire,' you would have investors in those companies saying, 'Are you crazy?'" Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, told Marketplace.

Consumer spending fell in January for the first time in two years, which may have led to layoffs or hiring slowdowns, Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist, told NBC News.

The big story: From bold promises to frozen labor market

After an initial market pop following Trump's electoral win, indexes have slumped to below when he took office, and uncertainty about the future of the markets is a common theme. Are threatened tariffs in place, delayed, reversed, or ramped up? Has that federal worker been fired or given their job back? Are those federal dollars slashed or reinstated? It's a question mark that changes daily.

Research shows that uncertainty invites lower investment, slows employment, and increases financial market volatility. The word "uncertain" showed up 47 times in the March edition of the Beige Book, the Federal Reserve's snapshot of reports from across the nation, compared to 17 times in the previous report from January.

The new administration's blitz of executive orders and trade policy waffling have cast a dense fog over the short-term economic outlook. One thing that is known? Uncertainty isn't good for business planning, job creation, or hiring.

In a March 12 interview with Semafor, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon noted that average consumers likely don't change "what they're going to do because they read about tariffs," but "companies might."

"Uncertainty is not a good thing," Dimon added.

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

49. Acadia Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,053 people (939 unemployed)

49. Vermilion Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,565 people (999 unemployed)

46. East Baton Rouge Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 221,409 people (9,263 unemployed)

46. Grant Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,986 people (337 unemployed)

46. Plaquemines Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,195 people (426 unemployed)

45. East Feliciana Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,192 people (320 unemployed)

43. Lincoln Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,979 people (943 unemployed)

43. Caddo Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 97,392 people (4,411 unemployed)

42. Beauregard Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,185 people (652 unemployed)

38. Calcasieu Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 81,627 people (3,798 unemployed)

38. Washington Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,904 people (840 unemployed)

38. St. Bernard Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,269 people (899 unemployed)

38. Iberia Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,722 people (1,302 unemployed)

34. Allen Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: -0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,828 people (374 unemployed)

34. Ouachita Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 69,081 people (3,293 unemployed)

34. Evangeline Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,574 people (560 unemployed)

34. Orleans Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 173,934 people (8,270 unemployed)

30. Tangipahoa Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 60,249 people (2,952 unemployed)

30. De Soto Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,816 people (535 unemployed)

30. Avoyelles Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,141 people (698 unemployed)

30. Jefferson Davis Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,114 people (594 unemployed)

29. Jackson Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,615 people (288 unemployed)

26. Pointe Coupee Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,675 people (452 unemployed)

26. St. James Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,901 people (466 unemployed)

26. Assumption Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,257 people (479 unemployed)

18. Cameron Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,873 people (100 unemployed)

18. Winn Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,696 people (251 unemployed)

18. Union Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,898 people (420 unemployed)

18. St. Mary Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,042 people (964 unemployed)

18. St. Landry Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,873 people (1,674 unemployed)

18. Red River Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,934 people (155 unemployed)

18. Iberville Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,604 people (663 unemployed)

18. Sabine Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,714 people (410 unemployed)

17. St. John the Baptist Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,232 people (1,006 unemployed)

15. Richland Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,811 people (437 unemployed)

15. Natchitoches Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,161 people (790 unemployed)

13. Bienville Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,504 people (257 unemployed)

13. Webster Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,915 people (730 unemployed)

12. Caldwell Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,211 people (186 unemployed)

11. Catahoula Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,364 people (199 unemployed)

10. Franklin Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,224 people (441 unemployed)

9. Vernon Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,934 people (1,066 unemployed)

8. Concordia Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,381 people (406 unemployed)

7. Claiborne Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,261 people (276 unemployed)

6. St. Helena Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,141 people (286 unemployed)

5. Morehouse Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,305 people (709 unemployed)

4. Madison Parish (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,020 people (242 unemployed)

3. West Carroll Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,542 people (295 unemployed)

2. Tensas Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.8%
--- 1-month change: +2.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,118 people (98 unemployed)

1. East Carroll Parish

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 13.8%
--- 1-month change: +4.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +4.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,200 people (165 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.