Louisiana could add roughly 55,000 jobs over the next two years as major industrial and technology projects move forward across the state, according to a new economic forecast from economist Dr. Loren Scott.
The forecast points to an unusual combination of growth drivers: data centers in north and central Louisiana, liquefied natural gas projects in the southwest and new aerospace and drone activity in Acadiana.
Scott told Louisiana Radio Network that the state is expected to see stronger job growth than usual because of the wave of large projects now under development. Lake Charles is projected to post the fastest percentage growth, adding about 6,000 jobs over the next two years. Scott tied much of that increase to three LNG export projects — two in Cameron Parish and another near Sulphur — and said the region has about $64 billion worth of projects underway.
Acadiana is projected to add approximately 5,600 jobs. Scott specifically cited the planned SpaceX facility in Vermilion Parish and growth in the drone industry as major factors behind that estimate.
That forecast could have a major impact across Lafayette, Iberia, Vermilion and surrounding parishes. Large aerospace and industrial projects rarely create only direct jobs at the project site. They also generate demand for construction workers, safety professionals, equipment operators, engineers, transportation providers, suppliers and other contractors.
North Louisiana is also expected to benefit from the rapid expansion of data-center construction. Scott pointed to additional projects around Monroe, Shreveport and Alexandria. Monroe is projected to be the second-fastest-growing region in the state, helped by construction of Meta’s massive data-center project in Richland Parish.
Not every part of the state is expected to grow at the same pace. Scott projected only about 1 percent job growth for New Orleans, where he said the continued post-pandemic decline in convention activity is weighing on the local economy. St. Tammany Parish is forecast to add about 1,100 jobs over the same period.
The numbers remain a forecast, and major construction schedules can change. Projects can be delayed by financing, permitting, labor shortages or changes in the broader economy. Still, the scale of investment now planned for Louisiana gives the state a stronger jobs pipeline than it has seen in many years.
For South Louisiana in particular, the combination of LNG, aerospace, fabrication, construction and energy investment could create opportunities for workers with industrial experience while also increasing demand for younger workers entering skilled trades and technical fields.
If Scott’s projections hold, the next two years could become an important test of whether Louisiana has enough trained workers to take advantage of the investment already headed its way.
