The Lafayette metro's job market is on fire - at least when compared to the rest of the state.
The Lafayette metro - which includes St. Martin Parish - had 15,300 more jobs in June 2012 than it had in June 2011, a 10.2 percent increase, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission's most recent figures.
Total nonfarm employment for the Lafayette MSA was estimated at 165,100 for June 2012, which, despite the healthy increase for the year, is actually down by 1,200 jobs from May of this year. In June, goods-producing employment increased by 700, with 5,800 more jobs in the sector compared to last June. The service-providing sector lost 1,900 jobs from May, but still added 9,500 jobs from last June.
Those figures put Lafayette far ahead of the rest of Louisiana, with Houma the state's second-best performer. The Houma area increased 4.9 percent, or 4,500 jobs, over the past year.
Louisiana's employment was estimated at 1,947,900 for June 2012. Employment declined by 5,000 from May to June, while over-the-year employment increased by 48,300 jobs. Goods-producing employment gained 1,000 jobs over the month, while service-providing employment lost 6,000 jobs when compared to May. Over the year, however, goods-producing industries gained 7,400 jobs while the service-providing sector gained 40,900.
Read the full jobs report here.