(The Center Square) − Louisiana has finally regained all the jobs it lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from Leaders for a Better Louisiana.
The group’s First Quarter 2025 Economic Dashboard presents a mixed picture. While the state has turned a corner on pandemic-era job losses and reversed a years-long population decline, it still trails much of the South in long-term economic performance.
“This is a milestone for economic recovery — but also a call to action,” said Adam Knapp, CEO of the nonprofit Leaders for a Better Louisiana. “We’re no longer losing ground, but we’ve got a long way to go.”
According to the report, Louisiana’s job base grew by 1.1% over the past year and more than 2% over the last two years.
Eight of the state’s 10 metro regions saw job gains, with Lafayette and New Orleans leading the pack. Baton Rouge added 0.8% more jobs over the last year, while Shreveport saw a 1.1% increase and Lake Charles grew by 0.7%.
The rebound comes as Louisiana’s population grew in 2024, reversing several years of outmigration.
Still, the state continues to lag behind its southern neighbors on several metrics. Since 2018, Louisiana is the only southern state to have experienced a net job loss — down 1% over that period. Other southern states have surged ahead in both job creation and the rate of new business formation.
The state’s wage growth has also been modest compared to its peers. Average weekly wages rose 19% over the past four years, hitting $1,156 in the third quarter of 2024. But that increase is just shy of the 20% average across the South.
Sector-by-sector, the report shows uneven growth. Health care and private education added the most jobs—up 11,800 over the past year—followed by government (plus-7,000), construction (plus-3,900), and professional and business services (plus-2,700). Trade, transportation, and utilities added 2,400 jobs.
But the leisure and hospitality sector shed 5,200 jobs, financial activities dropped by 2,900, and manufacturing lost 1,200 positions. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction have taken a bigger hit, with employment down 16% since 2018.
Construction jobs have fallen 10% over that period, even as manufacturing jobs inched up 4%.
