Unemployment rates have continued to rise across U.S. metropolitan areas, provoking alarm throughout the nation and guiding the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates last month. 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 August 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. The national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 4.1% in September, down slightly from the previous month. Still, it's up substantially from 3.8% during the same month last year and remains higher than it had otherwise been since December 2021. By 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%. The Federal Reserve has shifted its focus from curbing inflation to unemployment, cutting interest rates to alleviate economic strain and spur job growth. As of August, unemployment rates had increased from the previous year in 315 out of 389 U.S. metros areas—including 45 of the 51 largest metros, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Since last year, unemployment has spiked in half of states—a signal often indicating a looming recession, as Piper Sandler Chief Global Economist Nancy Lazar told Business Insider. These jobless rates, paired with layoffs among major U.S. employers like Google and Tesla, have sparked concern among Americans. Minus a major economic blow, economists continue to forecast that the U.S. is tracking toward an incremental slowdown in growth known as a "soft landing." The Fed plans to continue cutting rates to achieve this. To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the parishes with the highest unemployment in Louisiana. https://www.brproud.com/news/louisiana-news/daylight-saving-time-does-your-state-want-to-stop-changing-the-clocks/ 50. East Feliciana Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points Total labor force: 7,948 people (314 unemployed) 49. Beauregard Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 14,833 people (599 unemployed) 48. Calcasieu Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 92,214 people (3,655 unemployed) 47. East Baton Rouge Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points Total labor force: 234,450 people (9,325 unemployed) 46. Plaquemines Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points Total labor force: 9,788 people (405 unemployed) 45. Rapides Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 55,207 people (2,255 unemployed) 44. Red River Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points Total labor force: 3,756 people (159 unemployed) 43. Pointe Coupee Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points--- 1-year change: No change Total labor force: 9,854 people (411 unemployed) 42. St. Martin Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points Total labor force: 22,151 people (922 unemployed) 41. Acadia Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 24,039 people (1,030 unemployed) 40. Vermilion Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 24,226 people (1,037 unemployed) 39. Grant Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 8,202 people (358 unemployed) 38. Sabine Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points Total labor force: 9,188 people (402 unemployed) 37. Ouachita Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 68,726 people (3,104 unemployed) 36. Caddo Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points Total labor force: 100,713 people (4,533 unemployed) 35. Jefferson Davis Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points Total labor force: 12,569 people (580 unemployed) 34. Avoyelles Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points Total labor force: 14,516 people (670 unemployed) 33. De Soto Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points Total labor force: 10,870 people (515 unemployed) 32. Iberville Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points Total labor force: 13,963 people (662 unemployed) 31. St. Bernard Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points Total labor force: 19,875 people (926 unemployed) 30. Iberia Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 27,720 people (1,295 unemployed) 29. Claiborne Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 5,402 people (258 unemployed) 28. Richland Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points--- 1-year change: No change Total labor force: 8,103 people (386 unemployed) 27. Allen Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points Total labor force: 8,134 people (388 unemployed) 26. Evangeline Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points Total labor force: 12,028 people (581 unemployed) 25. Natchitoches Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points Total labor force: 17,099 people (826 unemployed) 24. Caldwell Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points Total labor force: 3,705 people (181 unemployed) 23. Catahoula Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 3,722 people (184 unemployed) 22. Assumption Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points Total labor force: 8,831 people (435 unemployed) 21. Union Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points Total labor force: 9,030 people (444 unemployed) 20. Vernon Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 15,871 people (781 unemployed) 19. Orleans Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points Total labor force: 174,917 people (8,646 unemployed) 18. Bienville Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 5,076 people (255 unemployed) 17. Tangipahoa Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points Total labor force: 57,879 people (2,918 unemployed) 16. Winn Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points Total labor force: 4,796 people (244 unemployed) 15. Webster Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 14,115 people (726 unemployed) 14. Washington Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 17,363 people (882 unemployed) 13. St. Mary Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 18,701 people (963 unemployed) 12. St. John the Baptist Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%--- 1-month change: No change--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 18,863 people (969 unemployed) 11. Lincoln Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points Total labor force: 20,372 people (1,046 unemployed) 10. St. Landry Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points Total labor force: 31,815 people (1,634 unemployed) 9. St. James Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points Total labor force: 8,853 people (462 unemployed) 8. St. Helena Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points Total labor force: 4,283 people (235 unemployed) 7. Concordia Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points Total labor force: 7,049 people (388 unemployed) 6. Franklin Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points Total labor force: 7,258 people (399 unemployed) 5. Madison Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 3,556 people (225 unemployed) 4. Morehouse Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points Total labor force: 9,391 people (602 unemployed) 3. Tensas Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%--- 1-month change: Down 1.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points Total labor force: 1,368 people (93 unemployed) 2. West Carroll Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points Total labor force: 3,504 people (244 unemployed) 1. East Carroll Parish August unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.4%--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points Total labor force: 1,685 people (159 unemployed)This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states. Latest News Live Wobble Tracker: Map shows real-time movements of Hurricane Milton Tampa Bay Buccaneers going to New Orleans early as Hurricane Milton heads to Florida Trump: Israel has to 'get smart' about supporting him See the Lousiana parishes with the highest unemployment rates Supreme Court won’t hear Pennsylvania legislators' challenge to executive actions expanding voting access