Louisiana Forecasts 55,000 New Jobs by 2028 as $100 Billion Projects Drive Construction Boom
Updated
Updated · NOLA.com · Oct 6
Louisiana Forecasts 55,000 New Jobs by 2028 as $100 Billion Projects Drive Construction Boom
2 articles · Updated · NOLA.com · Oct 6
Summary
55,000 jobs are projected to be added across Louisiana over the next two years, with statewide employment growth accelerating 2.7% between 2027 and 2028, according to the Louisiana Economic Forecast released Tuesday.
Industrial construction is driving the gains, led by data centers, LNG plants and SpaceX’s $100 billion launch facility, alongside major projects such as Hut 8’s $12.5 billion data center and Meta’s $50 billion Richland Parish campus.
Baton Rouge is expected to add 16,500 jobs, the most of any metro area, while Lake Charles posts the fastest percentage growth at 5.6%, or 6,000 jobs, on the back of $64.4 billion in projects.
New Orleans is forecast to add 6,200 jobs, or 1.3%, ranking ninth among 10 metro areas as convention business remains weak and work winds down at Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG terminal.
The outlook still hinges on volatile energy markets: the forecast assumes the Iran war ends this fall and oil falls to $68 a barrel in 2027, versus about $89 now.