A new report from Leaders for a Better Louisiana highlights how six megaprojects will bring a significant wave of construction activity to the state, and how Louisiana’s existing workforce strengths and ongoing training efforts position it to meet the challenge.
- Six concurrent megaprojects in Louisiana will employ an estimated 20,500 industrial construction workers at their peak
- Past growth waves of construction have driven population in-migration and created statewide coordination in training programs
- Regional impacts will drive unique north and south Louisiana gains at the same time
According to the analysis, construction employment tied to these projects will peak at 20,500 workers in late 2026 and early 2027— nearly one-quarter of the state’s current industrial construction workforce.
The six megaprojects include Meta’s new AI data center and Entergy’s supporting power center in Richland Parish near Monroe, two LNG projects in southwest Louisiana, and major projects by CF Industries and Hyundai Steel in Ascension Parish within the Capital Region.
Regional labor demand will be substantial. Monroe’s industrial construction workforce could expand to nearly four times its current size during peak construction, while Lake Charles demand could more than double. Baton Rouge’s already large industrial talent pool is expected to see steady growth.
The report points to Louisiana’s experience navigating these kinds of growth cycles, and potentially it points to a substantial period of workforce in-migration. From 2012 to 2018, during a period when Louisiana added nearly 30,000 industrial construction jobs, the overall population increased by more than 62,000 people.
The state also appears prepared and experienced for greater industrial construction. LSU has expanded its Bachelor’s in Construction Management program to more than double its annual graduates, and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System has been recognized nationally with the construction “Heisman” for its efforts to meet that need.