- Number of non-farm jobs eclipsed 2 million for second time in history. Overall, jobs up 1% over the last year and 2% over the last two years.
- Led by Slidell and Hammond, all ten of the state’s metro regions saw job growth over the last year.
- Health care and manufacturing showed strongest sector growth, and most major industries saw growth over the last year.
Louisiana’s economy showed solid momentum in the second quarter of 2025, surpassing two million non-farm jobs for only the second time in state history, according to the latest Quarter 2 Economic Data Report released by Leaders for a Better Louisiana (Better Louisiana). Every major metro region in the state posted job growth, with Slidell and Hammond leading the way.
Healthcare and manufacturing emerged as the top-performing sectors, both experiencing significant job gains. Healthcare alone added nearly 6,000 jobs over the past year, while manufacturing in the state now ranks in the top 20 nationally for growth.
Retail sales also rose by 2% year-over-year, even with 0.55% increase in the state sales tax that took effect in January after the November Tax Reform Special Session. Additionally, public higher education enrollment grew 3.5%, with some institutions such as LSU-Alexandria and LSU-Shreveport seeing double-digit gains, largely driven by the expansion of online programs.
While Louisiana still trails many Southern states in overall job growth since 2019, the state has posted 51 consecutive months of over-the-year job gains, signaling consistent resilience during global trade/ tariff changes.
The report also highlights population growth in key areas along the I-10 corridor, while also reporting on changes in the workforce, with and consistent demand in fields such as nursing, retail management, and logistics. Initial unemployment claims declined 5% year-over-year, reflecting continued labor market tightening.