Narrative: II. a. 1. A.

II. a. 1. A. Economic Analysis

The economic situation in Louisianais recovering from the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.  Compared to May 2020, the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased from 2,039,684 to 2,070,056 in May 2021, and the seasonally adjusted employment increased from 1,771,746 to 1,923,359.  The labor force participation rate increased from 57.0% to 57.9%, and the unemployment rate decreased from 13.1% to 7.1%.  The initial unemployment insurance claims decreased from 50,941 to 5,573 in, and the continued unemployment insurance claims decreased from 310,013 to 47,680.

The average weekly wage in Louisiana increased by $47, from $922 in the third quarter 2019 to $969 in the third quarter 2020. Utilities, management of companies and enterprises, mining, professional, scientific, and technical services, and manufacturing are the five highest-paying industries in Louisiana with the average hourly wages of $33.06, $32.03, $30.90, $30.71, and $28.43, respectively. 

Our employment forecasts indicate that Louisiana is expected to add 99,962 jobs (6% increase) by 2022.  More specifically, every region in the state is expected to add 3% - 10% jobs with an exception of the Lake Charles region.  The New Orleans area is projected to add 24,760 jobs, the Baton Rouge area is projected to add 31,097 jobs, the Houma area is projected to add 8,384 jobs, the Lafayette area is projected to add 15,692 jobs, the Lake Charles area is projected to lose 2,097 jobs, the Alexandria area is projected to add 4,985 jobs, the Shreveport area is projected to add 12,573 jobs, and the Monroe area is projected to add 6,756 jobs. 

Our forecasts also indicate that Accommodation and Food Services (24,821 jobs), Manufacturing (18,536 jobs), Health Care and Social Assistance (15,638 jobs), Retail Trade (11,734 jobs), and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (8,663 jobs) are the five industries that are expected to grow the most.

In an effort to keep up with the increasing labor demand, the Louisiana Workforce Commission has focused on workforce training and economic development efforts to diversify the state’s economy and labor market, as well as attracting new professional and technical employers, which promotes skilled workforce with high wages. 

The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Louisiana Occupational Information System (LOIS), is the state’s Virtual Labor Market Information Web Portal. This interactive site provides users with access to the latest Louisiana labor force, wages, population, industry employment, training schools, training programs, report for completion rates, projections, demographics, nonfarm employment, employer database, unemployment claimants, industry staffing patterns, licensed occupations, demand occupations, and career products. The LMI tables and charts and figures that follow provide projections for Louisiana’s long-term industry growth.

Sources: The preceding section cited data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Current Employment Statistics Program, the Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program, and LWC Long Term Industry Projections.

(i) EXISTING DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTORS AND OCCUPATIONS[1]

Health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Accommodation and Food Services, Educational Services, Other Services (Except Public Admin.), Government, Manufacturing, Construction, Administrative and Waste Services, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services are the largest employers / major industry sectors in Louisiana.

• 2020 Total Employment by Region

• Major Industries: Louisiana

Louisiana has eight Regional Labor Market Areas (RLMAs).

RLMA1 New Orleans Region: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany parishes

RLMA2 Baton Rouge Region: Ascension, East Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes

RLMA3 Houma Region: Assumption, Lafourche, and Terrebonne parishes

RLMA4 Lafayette Region: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion parishes

RLMA5 Lake Charles Region: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vernon parishes

RLMA6 Alexandria Region: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides,        and Winn parishes

RLMA7 Shreveport Region: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, and Webster parishes

RLMA8 Monroe Region: Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll parishes

• Major Industries: New Orleans  

• Major Industries: Baton Rouge

• Major Industries: Houma

• Major Industries: Lafayette

• Major Industries: Lake Charles

• Major Industries: Alexandria

• Major Industries: Shreveport

• Major Industries: Monroe

^{Source: Short-term Industry Employment Projections to 2022}

• Major Occupations in Louisiana

Registered Nurses; General and Operations Managers; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers; First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers; Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers; Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive; Customer Service Representatives; Construction Laborers; Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education; and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand are the major occupations in Louisiana.

• Major Occupations in RLMA 1 New Orleans

• Major Occupations in RLMA 2 Baton Rouge

• Major Occupations in RLMA 3 Houma

• Major Occupations in RLMA 4 Lafayette

• Major Occupations in RLMA 5 Lake Charles

• Major Occupations in RLMA 6 Alexandria

• Major Occupations in RLMA 7 Shreveport      

• Major Occupations in RLMA 8 Monroe

^{Source: LWC Short-term Occupational Projections for All Occupations to 2022}

(ii) EMERGING DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTORS AND OCCUPATIONS [2]

Our employment forecasts indicate that Louisiana is expected to add 99,962 jobs (6% increase) by 2022.  More specifically, every region in the state is expected to add 3% - 10% jobs with an exception of the Lake Charles region.  The New Orleans area is projected to add 24,760 jobs, the Baton Rouge area is projected to add 31,097 jobs, the Houma area is projected to add 8,384 jobs, the Lafayette area is projected to add 15,692 jobs, the Lake Charles area is projected to lose 2,097 jobs, the Alexandria area is projected to add 4,985 jobs, the Shreveport area is projected to add 12,573 jobs, and the Monroe area is projected to add 6,756 jobs. 

• Industry Forecast: Total, All Industries
• Major Industries in Louisiana

• Top 5 Growing Industries in Louisiana

• Major Industries: New Orleans

• Major Industries: Baton Rouge

• Major Industries: Houma

• Major Industries: Lafayette

• Major Industries: Lake Charles

• Major Industries: Alexandria

• Major Industries: Shreveport

• Major Industries: Monroe

^{Source: LWC Short-term Industry Employment Projections to 2022}

• Major Occupations in Louisiana

• RLMA 1 Major Occupations

• RLMA 2 Major Occupations

• RLMA 3 Major Occupations

• RLMA 4 Major Occupations

• RLMA 5 Major Occupations

• RLMA 6 Major Occupations

• RLMA 7 Major Occupations

• RLMA 8 Major Occupations

^{Source: LWC Short-term Occupational Projections for All Occupations to 2022}

 (iii) EMPLOYERS’ EMPLOYMENT NEEDS

Star rating is a metrics Louisiana has developed to identify high-demand and high-wage occupations.  Five-star indicates the most desirable (high-demand and high-wage), and one-star indicates the least desirable (low-demand and low-wage).  There are 189,129 five-star jobs (12%), 454,098 four-star jobs (28%), 281,337 three-star jobs (17%), 225,725 two-star jobs (14%), and 478,978 one-star jobs (29%) in Louisiana.  The complete list of star ratings is available at: https://www2.laworks.net/LaborMarketInfo/LMI_OccAllProj_short.asp?years=20202022.

• Five-star occupations in Louisiana

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 1

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 2

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 3

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 4

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 5

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 6

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 7

• Five-star occupations in RLMA 8