Louisiana is expected to add 55,000 jobs over the next two years, according to an economic forecast. Dr. Loren Scott puts together this economic forecast annually, and he’s projecting more jobs than usual because of the boom in data centers in north and central Louisiana.
“Another data center in Monroe; you’ve got three data centers, all Amazon-related, going into Shreveport. Then you have a smaller data center, that really has two phases to it, going just above Alexandria,” Scott explained.
Lake Charles is expected to have the highest percentage growth over the next two years, adding about 6,000 jobs. Scott says the big number in Lake Charles is almost exclusively due to three new LNG export facilities — two in Cameron Parish and another just south of Sulphur.
“They have $64 billion worth of projects underway,” Scott said.
Scott is projecting the Acadiana area will add 5,600 jobs because of the SpaceX facility in Vermilion Parish and the drone industry. Monroe is projected to be the second-fastest growing region in the state as a result of the construction of the $50 billion Meta data center under construction in Richland Parish.
Scott is only projecting a 1% job growth increase for New Orleans. He says a continued decline in conventions post-COVID is having an impact on the city’s economy.
“Prior to COVID in 2019, there were about 135 conventions scheduled for New Orleans. This year, there’s about 60,” Scott noted.
St. Tammany is forecasted to add 1,100 jobs over the next two years, making it the slowest- growing area in Louisiana. Scott says New Orleans slow growth has impacted the Northshore.
