Louisiana will add 53,800 jobs over the next two years, pushing the state past two million total jobs for the first time ever, predicts the LSU Department of Economics.
LSU Economist Lauren Scott says he expects the number of rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to increase from about 20 to 35, and for the state to see the end of its construction lull.
“Starting the latter part of this year and into 2020-21, we’ll see billions of dollars of new projects starting up, so we’ll start seeing a recovery in the industrial construction side,” said Scott. “That’s a major thing that is going to happen.”
Those projected gains will be led by the New Orleans and Baton Rouge markets. Scott says they will add 19,500 and 11,700 jobs respectively. He also predicts the Lake Charlesare to add 6,800 jobs.
Those predictions are based on one significant assumption: the end of the U.S.-China trade war. Scott says recent developments have been promising.
“There is a national election coming up in 2020, and the president cannot go into the national election with the economy limping along at one percent growth or so,” said Scott.
China recently announced it would be exempting U.S. soybeans and pork from its latest scheduled round of tariffs.
While the outlook south of the I-10 is rosy, regions north of the interstate are projected to continue stagnating. Scott says Shreveport will add 600 jobs, while Monroe will only see 400.
“Most of them peaked back in 2005-2008. There’s just not a whole bunch going on in the northern part of the state,” said Scott.
Scott did highlight the National Cyber Research Park, located next to Barksdale Airforce Base in Bossier City, as a highlight in north Louisiana. The park currently employs around 1,100 people.