Job Growth

Job growth was tepid in September. The nation still has 5 million fewer jobs than in Feb 2020, and the South has 1.2 million fewer.

Total jobs by month, U.S.

Jan 2000 - Sep 2021

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Note: Seasonally adjusted. Data for Aug 2021 and Sep 2021 are preliminary.

Change in jobs by state

August 2021 compared to February 2020

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Note: Seasonally adjusted. Data for Aug 2021 are preliminary.

The nation gained a meager 194,000 jobs in September — the weakest employment gain all year — as the labor market tightened (Quits Rate by Industry). Across the South, 1.2 million jobs have disappeared since February 2020. Louisiana is down 7.2% compared to its February 2020 jobs level.