News Summary

Louisiana celebrates 47 consecutive months of employment growth, with Shreveport alone adding 2,300 jobs in the past year. The state’s non-farm job count has reached 1.9 million, with significant gains in various sectors, especially education, health services, and hospitality. However, there are still challenges in some areas, indicating a mixed economic landscape as unemployment dips slightly but remains higher than the previous year.

Shreveport Celebrates Continued Employment Growth!

Shreveport, guess what? Louisiana is celebrating a fantastic achievement with 47 consecutive months of employment growth! That’s right! This trend shows that more and more people are finding jobs, and it seems like the economy is getting stronger each month. As of February, the state boasts a whopping 1.9 million non-farm jobs, with a recent increase of 2,900 jobs since January. Talk about progress!

Yearly Gains Reveal a Bright Future

Looking back over the past year, Louisiana’s non-farm employment has grown by 19,600 jobs. The numbers are in, and it looks good! In Shreveport specifically, the job market has grown to 169,600 jobs, which is an increase of 200 jobs just since last month. If you compare the job scene to February of last year, Shreveport has added an impressive 2,300 jobs to its economy. Now that’s something to celebrate!

Private Sector Shines Bright

In February, Louisiana’s private sector job total reached 1.6 million, marking an increase of 2,700 jobs since January. The year-over-year figures show an even more impressive gain of 16,200 jobs. It seems that private businesses are thriving, and that’s a good sign for all of us!

What Industries Are Leading the Way?

So, where are all these jobs popping up? Well, around the state, several industries have really made their mark. The three sectors with the largest yearly job gains include:

Private educational and health services: +7,400 jobs
Leisure and hospitality: +4,100 jobs
Manufacturing: +3,700 jobs

These areas represent a diverse mix of opportunities, giving job seekers multiple avenues to explore!

Urban Areas Shine in Employment Gains

Let’s take a quick peek into how our major cities are performing! New Orleans added a phenomenal 7,600 jobs since February of last year. Not to be overshadowed, Baton Rouge also enjoyed a nice bump with an increase of 4,500 jobs. And let’s not forget about Shreveport’s growth! Besides that impressive addition of 2,300 jobs, that’s year-round success making waves!

Challenges in Other Areas

While many areas of Louisiana are thriving, it’s not all apples and oranges. Alexandria has faced a bit of stagnation, reporting no change in employment year-over-year and having lost 200 jobs since January. Houma wasn’t so lucky either, with a loss of 200 jobs last month and a year-over-year comparison showing a decrease of 500 jobs. We can hope that these regions will bounce back soon!

Unemployment Rates on a Roller Coaster Ride

Interestingly, unemployment in Louisiana did see a slight dip of 1,966 individuals5,315 compared to the same time last year. It shows that while more jobs are being created, challenges still remain for some.

All in all, the employment growth in Louisiana is absolutely a positive move forward as we keep our fingers crossed for continued success in our job market. So, Shreveport residents, let’s get excited about the opportunities ahead!