Lafayette unemployment is Louisiana's lowest

Lafayette Parish's unemployment rate was at the lowest it has been in 3-1/2 years in September, according to preliminary unemployment numbers released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

This September, Lafayette Parish had the lowest seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in the state at 4 percent. The last time it was that low was in March 2009, when the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, according to LWC.

Lafayette Parish has had the lowest unemployment rate in Louisiana for eight of the last nine months.

The unemployment rate was down from 4.8 percent in August and 5 percent in September 2011.

Statewide, the unemployment rate in September dropped to 6.3 percent from 7.3 percent in August and 7.2 percent in September 2011.

The U.S. rate improved to 7.6 percent from 8.2 percent in August and 8.8 percent in September 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The unemployment rate for the Lafayette MSA, which includes Lafayette and St. Martin Parishes, was 4.1 percent in September, also the lowest in the state, and down from 5 percent in August.

There were 166,600 non-farm jobs in the Lafayette MSA, an increase of 13,300 jobs from September 2011, according to the Lafayette Economic Development Authority.

Since September 2011, the service-providing sector has added 8,700 jobs, with the largest increases coming from health care and professional services — 2,500 and 2,400 jobs respectively. Goods-producing industries added another 4,600 jobs since last September.

Of that, mining — oil and gas — and manufacturing saw the largest gains in employment — 2,400 and 1,900 jobs respectively. All other industries saw employment increases, except the information and government sectors which were unchanged over the year, according to LEDA.

"With the positive employment trend continuing into the fourth quarter and holiday hiring already underway at many establishments, 2012 looks to end on a very high note for Acadiana's labor force," LEDA President Gregg Gothreaux said in a news release.