Louisiana adds 36,000 jobs in past year, construction drives growth
Louisiana reported a net gain of 36,000 payroll jobs over the last year, with construction accounting for about half of the increase.
Louisiana Works released preliminary figures indicating that the state added 36,000 payroll jobs over the past year, setting a new record for seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment at 2,024,200 in September. Construction led the expansion with 18,800 jobs, about 52% of the total increase, followed by professional and business services (8,000 jobs) and private education and health services (7,200 jobs). Private employers created 35,700 of the new positions, bringing private-sector employment to a record 1,698,200.
Monthly gains in September also included 700 jobs each in professional and business services and leisure and hospitality, plus 600 in construction. The agency did not identify the specific construction projects, public versus private funding, or which sectors lost jobs, and it noted that the figures are preliminary and subject to revision. Nine of the ten metropolitan areas in the state added jobs, with Baton Rouge gaining 13,700 and the Slidell area matching its employment record of 103,500.
Why it matters
The job surge signals strong economic momentum in Louisiana, especially in construction, affecting workers and local economies.
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