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News Release Information

19-605-DAL
Monday, May 20, 2019

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (972) 850-4800

Business Employment Dynamics in Louisiana – Third Quarter 2018

From June 2018 to September 2018, gross job gains in private sector establishments in Louisiana totaled 99,790, while gross job losses numbered 100,875, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Stanley W. Suchman noted that gross job losses exceeded gross job gains by 1,085. In the previous quarter, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains by 6,060. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Technical Note for more information.)

The number of gross job gains in Louisiana increased by 2,233 in the third quarter of 2018 after falling by 6,842 in the previous quarter. (See chart 1.) Louisiana’s gross job losses fell by 2,742 in the third quarter of 2018, after climbing by 9,966 in the previous quarter. The loss of 1,085 jobs in the current quarter was the state’s second consecutive net job loss after three consecutive quarters of net gains.

Gross job gains represented 6.2 percent of private sector employment in Louisiana in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 6.0 percent for the nation. (See chart 2.) With a few exceptions, Louisiana’s rate of gross job gains has equaled or exceeded the national rate of job gains since September 1999. Gross job losses in the state represented 6.2 percent of private sector employment in the quarter ended in September 2018, compared to the national rate of 6.0 percent. Since the third quarter of 2005, the rates of gross job loss in the state have equaled or exceeded the national average with few exceptions.

During the third quarter of 2018, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains in 7 of the 11 industry sectors in Louisiana. For example, within construction, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains by 2,740. While 14,432 jobs were gained in opening and expanding establishments in the industry, 17,172 jobs were lost by closing and contracting establishments in the three months ended in September 2018. In retail trade 12,551 jobs were created in opening and expanding establishments, and 13,751 jobs were lost in closing and contracting establishments, resulting in a net loss of 1,200 jobs. Net job losses were less than 500 in the other five sectors where gross job losses exceeded gross job gains. (See table 1.)

In contrast, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in four industry sectors in Louisiana in September 2018. Within leisure and hospitality, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 1,413. Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 1,225 in the transportation and warehousing sector. The education and health services sector had a net gain of 960 jobs during the quarter, while professional and business services had a net gain of 441 jobs.

Additional statistics and other information

BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. For more information on the Business Employment Dynamics data, visit the BED web site at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics release for Fourth Quarter 2018 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.


Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), or the ES-202 program. The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the quarterly QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding establishments and jobs lost at closing and contracting establishments.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings. These are either establishments with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions. These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings. These are either establishments with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions. These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request: voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

 

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Louisiana, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains and job losses
(3 months ended)
Gross job gains and job losses
as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017
Mar.
2018
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017
Mar.
2018
June
2018
Sept.
2018

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

98,94499,534104,39997,55799,7906.26.26.56.16.2

At expanding establishments

81,45482,19687,05580,45084,0535.15.15.45.05.2

At opening establishments

17,49017,33817,34417,10715,7371.11.11.11.11.0

Gross job losses

97,20595,86293,651103,617100,8756.16.05.86.56.2

At contracting establishments

82,52179,53477,13086,18984,2615.25.04.85.45.2

At closing establishments

14,68416,32816,52117,42816,6140.91.01.01.11.0

Net employment change (2)

1,7393,67210,748-6,060-1,0850.10.20.7-0.40.0

Construction

Gross job gains

12,17414,26616,98514,87814,4328.39.811.29.69.5

At expanding establishments

10,86512,40415,12713,31112,7397.48.510.08.68.4

At opening establishments

1,3091,8621,8581,5671,6930.91.31.21.01.1

Gross job losses

13,44013,26411,01914,12117,1729.29.17.39.211.3

At contracting establishments

12,16311,6889,29512,64615,5478.38.06.28.210.2

At closing establishments

1,2771,5761,7241,4751,6250.91.11.11.01.1

Net employment change (2)

-1,2661,0025,966757-2,740-0.90.73.90.4-1.8

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

4,5645,3495,4604,5834,4793.44.04.03.43.3

At expanding establishments

4,1505,0604,8564,2704,0263.13.83.63.23.0

At opening establishments

4142896043134530.30.20.40.20.3

Gross job losses

5,5494,3914,7784,4514,9294.13.33.53.33.6

At contracting establishments

4,9833,7744,2583,7844,4713.72.83.12.83.3

At closing establishments

5666175206674580.40.50.40.50.3

Net employment change (2)

-985958682132-450-0.70.70.50.1-0.3

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

3,1002,8323,6783,1222,9934.54.15.34.54.3

At expanding establishments

2,5462,2223,0602,5792,5523.73.24.43.73.7

At opening establishments

5546106185434410.80.90.90.80.6

Gross job losses

2,8363,2863,0483,4403,0484.14.74.45.04.4

At contracting establishments

2,2222,7732,4312,8302,4853.24.03.54.13.6

At closing establishments

6145136176105630.90.70.90.90.8

Net employment change (2)

264-454630-318-550.4-0.60.9-0.5-0.1

Retail trade

Gross job gains

12,31412,21013,45712,02212,5515.45.35.95.35.5

At expanding establishments

10,32510,83111,94310,28610,5604.54.75.24.54.6

At opening establishments

1,9891,3791,5141,7361,9910.90.60.70.80.9

Gross job losses

14,32413,16413,11413,99013,7516.25.85.76.16.1

At contracting establishments

12,21711,61210,97612,45111,5555.35.14.85.45.1

At closing establishments

2,1071,5522,1381,5392,1960.90.70.90.71.0

Net employment change (2)

-2,010-954343-1,968-1,200-0.8-0.50.2-0.8-0.6

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

3,6005,1205,0144,1994,4135.27.47.15.96.2

At expanding establishments

3,2494,3894,4403,6063,7674.76.36.35.15.3

At opening establishments

3517315745936460.51.10.80.80.9

Gross job losses

3,6123,6224,2584,9913,1885.25.26.17.14.5

At contracting establishments

3,0602,7753,6494,1702,6514.44.05.25.93.7

At closing establishments

5528476098215370.81.20.91.20.8

Net employment change (2)

-121,498756-7921,2250.02.21.0-1.21.7

Information

Gross job gains

2,2191,6993,1111,1611,99310.07.613.45.09.0

At expanding establishments

1,3581,5122,3931,0441,7016.16.810.34.57.7

At opening establishments

8611877181172923.90.83.10.51.3

Gross job losses

2,0842,1631,5793,1642,3719.49.86.813.710.8

At contracting establishments

1,8471,9731,3682,5661,9608.38.95.911.18.9

At closing establishments

2371902115984111.10.90.92.61.9

Net employment change (2)

135-4641,532-2,003-3780.6-2.26.6-8.7-1.8

Financial activities

Gross job gains

4,2484,1764,2044,2704,4805.04.85.05.05.3

At expanding establishments

3,3253,3683,3013,2513,4003.93.93.93.84.0

At opening establishments

9238089031,0191,0801.10.91.11.21.3

Gross job losses

4,2094,5664,3014,3994,6204.95.35.15.25.4

At contracting establishments

3,3543,5003,3033,3083,5673.94.13.93.94.2

At closing establishments

8551,0669981,0911,0531.01.21.21.31.2

Net employment change (2)

39-390-97-129-1400.1-0.5-0.1-0.2-0.1

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

16,84716,35515,31115,30215,5478.17.87.37.27.3

At expanding establishments

13,50412,78012,45112,30412,9726.56.15.95.86.1

At opening establishments

3,3433,5752,8602,9982,5751.61.71.41.41.2

Gross job losses

14,59414,75714,58115,41415,1067.07.07.07.37.1

At contracting establishments

12,06511,20111,48111,97512,0515.85.35.55.75.7

At closing establishments

2,5293,5563,1003,4393,0551.21.71.51.61.4

Net employment change (2)

2,2531,598730-1124411.10.80.3-0.10.2

Education and health services

Gross job gains

14,33613,67012,17413,19313,2684.84.64.14.44.5

At expanding establishments

11,83811,05310,13010,51811,5624.03.73.43.53.9

At opening establishments

2,4982,6172,0442,6751,7060.80.90.70.90.6

Gross job losses

13,23412,87313,79713,63812,3084.54.34.64.64.1

At contracting establishments

10,95810,63511,09811,3299,6403.73.63.73.83.2

At closing establishments

2,2762,2382,6992,3092,6680.80.70.90.80.9

Net employment change (2)

1,102797-1,623-4459600.30.3-0.5-0.20.4

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

19,26816,76318,20017,94818,9598.27.27.87.68.0

At expanding establishments

14,96912,62614,02013,70715,0076.45.46.05.86.3

At opening establishments

4,2994,1374,1804,2413,9521.81.81.81.81.7

Gross job losses

16,65716,87717,20919,18517,5467.17.27.38.17.4

At contracting establishments

14,13013,97814,66015,64714,6956.06.06.26.66.2

At closing establishments

2,5272,8992,5493,5382,8511.11.21.11.51.2

Net employment change (2)

2,611-114991-1,2371,4131.10.00.5-0.50.6

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

3,0892,8963,3433,4053,2597.06.57.67.77.4

At expanding establishments

2,4772,2632,5052,5912,7735.65.15.75.96.3

At opening establishments

6126338388144861.41.41.91.81.1

Gross job losses

3,2743,1693,0713,3163,2897.47.27.07.57.5

At contracting establishments

2,6922,4962,2802,7562,6036.15.75.26.25.9

At closing establishments

5826737915606861.31.51.81.31.6

Net employment change (2)

-185-27327289-30-0.4-0.70.60.2-0.1

Footnotes:
(1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately.
(2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information.
(3) Except public administration.

 

Table 2. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
StateGross job gains as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Gross job losses as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017
Mar.
2018
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017
Mar.
2018
June
2018
Sept.
2018

United States(1)

6.06.46.06.16.06.15.65.45.86.0

Alabama

6.06.06.05.85.95.85.45.35.75.9

Alaska

8.79.79.810.98.910.810.28.810.710.6

Arizona

6.66.36.06.06.65.25.35.35.95.0

Arkansas

5.86.15.45.06.05.55.15.05.65.5

California

6.56.96.46.76.56.36.05.96.36.2

Colorado

6.76.86.86.86.66.56.16.06.16.8

Connecticut

5.45.35.15.85.25.85.25.25.05.6

Delaware

6.47.07.16.55.66.66.45.96.06.6

District of Columbia

5.45.86.05.65.35.25.04.75.55.5

Florida

5.88.26.16.56.77.55.35.56.15.7

Georgia

6.26.96.56.26.76.15.65.66.46.2

Hawaii

5.45.15.05.25.15.14.74.85.55.5

Idaho

6.77.47.97.36.86.86.65.96.76.9

Illinois

5.66.05.75.65.66.05.35.15.55.7

Indiana

5.45.75.65.45.25.65.05.15.55.4

Iowa

5.55.95.55.75.35.75.35.35.45.7

Kansas

6.35.95.25.75.95.75.25.55.65.7

Kentucky

6.06.16.25.95.76.05.65.95.66.0

Louisiana

6.26.26.56.16.26.16.05.86.56.2

Maine

6.57.27.28.16.07.56.67.07.17.5

Maryland

6.36.26.36.06.36.26.35.75.86.6

Massachusetts

5.45.75.46.15.55.65.45.25.46.2

Michigan

5.35.75.75.65.06.05.44.65.16.2

Minnesota

5.35.85.35.85.45.75.55.05.35.7

Mississippi

5.96.35.55.75.85.95.45.86.05.7

Missouri

5.95.75.45.75.95.95.55.25.76.0

Montana

7.28.57.88.07.27.97.47.17.87.9

Nebraska

5.96.25.65.95.85.95.55.55.86.0

Nevada

6.26.66.56.16.75.85.25.45.85.6

New Hampshire

5.56.76.16.75.66.65.95.96.36.8

New Jersey

6.06.45.66.56.06.35.85.85.76.3

New Mexico

6.66.56.36.56.46.36.15.56.26.4

New York

6.36.26.26.36.16.15.85.65.86.4

North Carolina

6.06.36.26.15.66.05.55.25.56.5

North Dakota

6.76.87.06.76.66.76.86.36.26.6

Ohio

5.35.75.55.65.35.75.25.05.45.7

Oklahoma

6.66.46.16.36.66.05.85.56.56.1

Oregon

6.66.87.86.26.26.46.05.66.26.3

Pennsylvania

5.55.55.25.35.45.25.04.95.15.2

Rhode Island

6.06.66.36.36.26.36.06.16.16.4

South Carolina

5.87.05.97.55.86.25.34.76.56.5

South Dakota

5.86.46.46.15.95.95.75.96.15.8

Tennessee

5.45.95.05.55.85.24.94.85.15.2

Texas

5.96.45.85.95.95.85.35.15.25.4

Utah

7.07.07.46.97.36.35.96.06.36.5

Vermont

6.57.46.47.26.97.86.57.07.37.4

Virginia

5.96.35.86.15.66.25.55.25.86.3

Washington

6.46.97.27.36.16.46.05.76.36.3

West Virginia

6.76.36.86.87.06.36.15.86.46.4

Wisconsin

5.05.65.65.45.15.75.04.75.55.9

Wyoming

8.78.78.48.28.27.98.48.08.38.3

Puerto Rico

4.57.18.48.07.26.811.86.86.25.8

Virgin Islands

4.29.212.012.510.911.628.216.88.66.3

Footnotes:
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

 

Last Modified Date: Monday, May 20, 2019