Yet another reason we are lucky to be living is Southwest Louisiana; the economy here does not reflect the national figures. So far, in 2012, the national unemployment figures are hovering around 8%. That's not as bad as November of 2009 (10%) but still, the economy remains sluggish.

Our local economy not only looks better now, but it's projected to get better through the course of the year:

 

 

 

 

Here is a quick glance at the national figures

Year       Jan         Feb        Mar        Apr         May       Jun         Jul           Aug        Sep        Oct         Nov        Dec        Annual

2002       5.7          5.7          5.7          5.9          5.8          5.8          5.8          5.7          5.7          5.7          5.9          6.0

2003       5.8          5.9          5.9          6.0          6.1          6.3          6.2          6.1          6.1          6.0          5.8          5.7

2004       5.7          5.6          5.8          5.6          5.6          5.6          5.5          5.4          5.4          5.5          5.4          5.4

2005       5.3          5.4          5.2          5.2          5.1          5.0          5.0          4.9          5.0          5.0          5.0          4.9

2006       4.7          4.8          4.7          4.7          4.6          4.6          4.7          4.7          4.5          4.4          4.5          4.4

2007       4.6          4.5          4.4          4.5          4.4          4.6          4.7          4.6          4.7          4.7          4.7          5.0

2008       5.0          4.9          5.1          5.0          5.4          5.6          5.8          6.1          6.1          6.5          6.8          7.3

2009       7.8          8.3          8.7          8.9          9.4          9.5          9.5          9.6          9.8          10.0        9.9          9.9

2010       9.7          9.8          9.8          9.9          9.6          9.4          9.5          9.6          9.5          9.5          9.8          9.4

2011       9.1          9.0          8.9          9.0          9.0          9.1          9.1          9.1          9.0          8.9          8.7          8.5

2012       8.3          8.3          8.2          8.1          8.2

 

Here are the latest figures for Lake Charles:

Lake Charles, LA

Data Series

Lake Charles, LA
Back
Data
Nov
2011
Dec
2011
Jan
2012
Feb
2012
Mar
2012
Apr
2012
Labor Force Data 
Civilian Labor Force (1) (4) 92.2(4) 91.190.590.590.8(P) 92.1
Employment (1) (4) 86.4(4) 85.484.184.584.7(P) 86.5
Unemployment (1) (4) 5.8(4) 5.76.45.96.1(P) 5.7
Unemployment Rate (2) (4) 6.3(4) 6.37.16.56.7(P) 6.1
Nonfarm Wage and Salary Employment 
Total Nonfarm (3) 88.388.388.088.087.8(P) 88.9
12-month % change0.1-0.30.3-0.2-0.9(P) -0.7
Mining and Logging (3) 1.41.41.41.41.4(P) 1.3
12-month % change27.340.027.327.327.3(P) 0.0
Construction (3) 8.28.18.18.28.3(P) 8.3
12-month % change5.12.53.82.53.8(P) 1.2
Manufacturing (3) 8.88.98.88.78.8(P) 8.9
12-month % change2.33.52.30.01.1(P) 1.1
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (3) 16.016.315.815.615.8(P) 16.3
12-month % change-3.0-3.6-4.8-6.0-4.8(P) -1.8
Professional and Business Services (3) 7.17.17.17.17.1(P) 7.1
12-month % change4.46.06.02.91.4(P) 0.0
Leisure and Hospitality (3) 11.411.411.211.411.6(P) 11.8
12-month % change-1.7-0.90.92.71.8(P) 3.5
Government (3) 16.316.216.016.216.1(P) 16.2
12-month % change0.60.0-1.8-1.2-1.2(P) -1.2
Footnotes
(1) Number of persons, in thousands, not seasonally adjusted.
(2) In percent, not seasonally adjusted.
(3) Number of jobs, in thousands, not seasonally adjusted. See About the data.
(4) Reflects revised inputs, reestimation, and controlling to new statewide totals.
(P) Preliminary

 

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