Baton Rouge Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Baton Rouge area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Unemployment rates
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Baton Rouge area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $1,003)
4.5
United States
4.1
5.0
Baton Rouge area
4.7
4.8
Ascension Parish
4.6
4.9
East Baton Rouge
Parish
4.7
6.6
Iberville Parish
6.5
4.7
Livingston Parish
0.0
4.5
2.0
4.0
May-16
6.0
8.0
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Baton Rouge area employment
(numbers in thousands)
Percent
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
May-14
Baton Rouge area
United States
May-15
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
•
May
2017
409.7
1.0
53.6
29.2
68.5
5.4
19.1
48.8
54.1
40.6
16.8
72.6
Change from May
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
1.9
-0.1
3.4
0.2
-1.9
-0.5
0.2
0.2
1.6
-0.1
-0.1
-1.0
0.5
-9.1
6.8
0.7
-2.7
-8.5
1.1
0.4
3.0
-0.2
-0.6
-1.4
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, May 2017
6.0
Percent
6.0
5.4
South region
U.S. city average
4.7
12-month percent changes in PPI
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Engineering services
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
1.7
1.9
0.0
0.7
0.0
All Items
0.9
-2.0
Food
Energy
-4.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
South Region average annual expenditures 2015
May-15
Housing
$16,518
31.8%
Healthcare
$4,264
8.2%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$5,608
10.8%
Food
$6,613
12.7%
Transportation
$9,598
18.5%
Total:
$52,020
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Private industry, March 2017
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
West South
Central (1)
$30.07
21.60
8.47
1.92
0.96
1.05
2.10
1.10
2.31
(1) West South Central includes AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$9,419
18.1%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
Baton Rouge
area
United
States
Total, all occupations
$21.38
$23.86
Dentists, general
101.05
83.59
General and operations managers
57.28
58.70
Lawyers
49.76
67.25
Computer systems analysts
37.30
44.05
Accountants and auditors
31.06
36.89
Registered nurses
28.52
34.70
Construction laborers
16.34
18.22
Customer service representatives
14.60
16.91
Medical secretaries
14.22
16.85
Retail salespersons
11.43
13.07
Food preparation workers
8.81
11.02
Cooks, fast food
8.69
9.89
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
2.0
1.0
0.0
West South Central
-1.0
Mar-14
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest • 972-850-4800
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17