Parishes with the highest unemployment in Louisiana

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of parishes with the highest unemployment rates in Louisiana using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Parishes are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 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.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

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

#25. Assumption Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,879 people (450 unemployed)

#24. Evangeline Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,985 people (609 unemployed)

#23. Jefferson Davis Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,375 people (627 unemployed)

#22. Washington Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,610 people (916 unemployed)

#21. Tangipahoa Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 57,371 people (2,963 unemployed)

#20. Orleans Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 173,935 people (9,119 unemployed)

#19. Bienville Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,149 people (275 unemployed)

#18. Richland Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,898 people (419 unemployed)

#17. Union Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,966 people (477 unemployed)

#16. St. John the Baptist Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,768 people (989 unemployed)

#15. Winn Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,685 people (253 unemployed)

#14. De Soto Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,789 people (578 unemployed)

#13. St. Landry Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,099 people (1,678 unemployed)

#12. St. James Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,840 people (488 unemployed)

#11. Webster Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,957 people (765 unemployed)

#10. Franklin Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,129 people (408 unemployed)

#9. St. Mary Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,134 people (1,040 unemployed)

#8. St. Helena Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,254 people (246 unemployed)

#7. Concordia Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,959 people (421 unemployed)

#6. Vernon Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,770 people (962 unemployed)

#5. Morehouse Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,496 people (627 unemployed)

#4. Madison Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,618 people (248 unemployed)

#3. Tensas Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,346 people (97 unemployed)

#2. West Carroll Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,493 people (257 unemployed)

#1. East Carroll Parish

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,703 people (162 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.