Hurricane Katrina Evacuees, January 2006

In January, evacuees identified in CPS households represented about 1.2 million persons 16 and over. About 57 percent of the group was in the labor force. About 46 percent of the evacuees identified in the survey had returned to their homes; the unemployment rate for returnees was 2.9 percent compared to 26.3 percent for those who had not returned. See table below.

Employment status in January 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 January 2006 Total Residence in January
Same as in
August		 Different than
in August

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

 1,245 575 670

Civilian labor force

 707 351 355

Participation rate

 56.8 61.1 53.1

Employed

 603 341 262

Employment-population ratio

 48.4 59.3 39.1

Unemployed

 104 10 94

Unemployment rate

 14.7 2.9 26.3

Not in labor force

 538 224 314

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