Hurricane Katrina Evacuees, February 2006

Evacuees identified in CPS households in February represented about 1.0 million persons 16 and over. About 58 percent of the group was in the labor force and about 51 percent were employed. About 53 percent of the evacuees identified in the survey had returned to their home; the unemployment rate for returnees was 4.8 percent compared to 22.6 percent for those who had not returned. See table below.

Employment status in February 2006 of persons 16 years and over who evacuated from their August residence, even temporarily, due to Hurricane Katrina 1/

[Numbers in thousands, not seasonally adjusted]
Employment status in February 2006 Total Residence in February
Same as in
August		 Different than
in August

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

 1,017 540 478

Civilian labor force

 591 333 258

Participation rate

 58.1 61.7 53.9

Employed

 516 317 200

Employment-population ratio

 50.8 58.7 41.8

Unemployed

 74 16 58

Unemployment rate

 12.6 4.8 22.6

Not in labor force

 427 207 220

1/ Represents persons in the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over who resided in households that were eligible to be selected for CPS. These data are not representative of the total evacuee population because they do not include children or people residing in shelters, hotels, places of worship, or other units out of scope for CPS. The total number of evacuees estimated from the CPS may change from month to month as people move in and out of the scope of the survey and because of sampling variability.

Note: These data use population controls that have been adjusted to account for interstate moves by evacuees.

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Last Modified Date: May 2, 2006