The U.S. is facing labor shortages in critical areas of the economy, according to Georgetown University, particularly in health care, engineering, and computer science.
Local business boosters says labor shortages are nothing new here, but this will sharpen the need to create a home-grown workforce.
Having a skilled workforce is one of the first things organizations like GNO Inc. need to show to any business thinking of setting up operations here. GNO Inc.'s Michael Hecht says you can only bring so many people in from other parts of the country
"We're in a period of generational economic growth in the state in maritime and energy and particularly in defense and aerospace," said Hecht, "And if we don't do a good enough job of pipelining local Louisianans into these jobs, into these companies, than we truly going to lose out on the opportunity and be colonized."
Hecht says the benefits of economic growth in Louisiana needs to go to Louisianans.
"There's some things that are going to happen here, now," Hecht said. "Maritime is going to happen here, Michoud is going to happen here. Meta is going to happen up in Richland Parish. So the question is really, not, 'are those companies at risk?' but 'is the benefit going to be enjoyed by Louisianians?'"
Hecht says Meta is helping fund a technology program at Delta Parish Community College for its data center in Richland Parish, and he says more public-private investments like that are needed.
