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Louisiana Economy
Unemployment was 4.0% in Sep 2026, the 28th lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $61,897 per person.
- Unemployment rate
- 4.0%
- -0.2 pts in a year
- Labor force
- 2,102,971
- +0.2% in a year
- Income per person
- $61,897
- BEA, 2024
- Average annual pay
- $63,090
- QCEW, 2025
Unemployment rate in Louisiana
Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.
Show as a table
| Period | Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 4.0% |
| Dec 2025 | 4.2% |
| Dec 2024 | 4.4% |
| Dec 2023 | 4.2% |
| Dec 2022 | 3.5% |
| Dec 2021 | 4.0% |
| Dec 2020 | 7.4% |
| Dec 2019 | 4.8% |
| Dec 2018 | 4.8% |
| Dec 2017 | 4.7% |
| Dec 2016 | 5.9% |
| Dec 2015 | 6.0% |
| Dec 2014 | 6.8% |
| Dec 2013 | 5.7% |
| Dec 2012 | 6.5% |
Beta
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026
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Counties in Louisiana
Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.
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| # | County | Unemployment | 1 year | Labor force | Income per person | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Baton Rouge Parish | 3.7% | -0.6 pts | 228,541 | $70,775 | $67,999 |
| 2 | Jefferson Parish | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | 208,297 | $65,691 | $66,283 |
| 3 | Orleans Parish | 4.2% | -0.7 pts | 173,429 | $71,513 | $70,573 |
| 4 | St. Tammany Parish | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | 130,101 | $82,398 | $61,502 |
| 5 | Lafayette Parish | 3.3% | -0.4 pts | 128,819 | $69,524 | $59,616 |
| 6 | Caddo Parish | 3.8% | -0.7 pts | 99,299 | $67,649 | $59,779 |
| 7 | Calcasieu Parish | 3.9% | -0.7 pts | 85,714 | $56,113 | $63,063 |
| 8 | Livingston Parish | 3.4% | -0.6 pts | 73,032 | $53,590 | $47,222 |
| 9 | Ouachita Parish | 3.8% | -0.7 pts | 70,764 | $51,953 | $51,972 |
| 10 | Ascension Parish | 3.3% | -0.5 pts | 70,024 | $66,285 | $72,814 |
| 11 | Tangipahoa Parish | 4.4% | -0.8 pts | 60,428 | $52,248 | $48,968 |
| 12 | Bossier Parish | 3.5% | -0.6 pts | 59,059 | $59,143 | $53,633 |
| 13 | Rapides Parish | 3.6% | -0.4 pts | 55,850 | $58,789 | $53,620 |
| 14 | Terrebonne Parish | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | 46,031 | $56,037 | $64,250 |
| 15 | Lafourche Parish | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | 42,300 | $64,579 | $68,017 |
| 16 | St. Landry Parish | 4.6% | -0.5 pts | 33,002 | $51,290 | $48,457 |
| 17 | Iberia Parish | 4.1% | -0.5 pts | 29,177 | $52,567 | $59,590 |
| 18 | Vermilion Parish | 3.5% | -0.6 pts | 25,578 | $52,234 | $49,398 |
| 19 | St. Charles Parish | 3.6% | -0.3 pts | 24,713 | $64,344 | $88,136 |
| 20 | Acadia Parish | 3.7% | -0.6 pts | 23,761 | $51,423 | $46,047 |
| 21 | St. Martin Parish | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | 23,645 | $52,366 | $56,064 |
| 22 | Lincoln Parish | 4.2% | -0.4 pts | 22,178 | $53,652 | $48,256 |
| 23 | St. Bernard Parish | 4.1% | -0.8 pts | 19,553 | $46,043 | $60,924 |
| 24 | St. Mary Parish | 4.2% | -1.0 pts | 18,616 | $53,332 | $63,289 |
| 25 | St. John the Baptist Parish | 4.7% | -0.5 pts | 18,374 | $52,224 | $75,200 |
All 64 counties, A to Z
- Acadia Parish
- Allen Parish
- Ascension Parish
- Assumption Parish
- Avoyelles Parish
- Beauregard Parish
- Bienville Parish
- Bossier Parish
- Caddo Parish
- Calcasieu Parish
- Caldwell Parish
- Cameron Parish
- Catahoula Parish
- Claiborne Parish
- Concordia Parish
- De Soto Parish
- East Baton Rouge Parish
- East Carroll Parish
- East Feliciana Parish
- Evangeline Parish
- Franklin Parish
- Grant Parish
- Iberia Parish
- Iberville Parish
- Jackson Parish
- Jefferson Davis Parish
- Jefferson Parish
- Lafayette Parish
- Lafourche Parish
- LaSalle Parish
- Lincoln Parish
- Livingston Parish
- Madison Parish
- Morehouse Parish
- Natchitoches Parish
- Orleans Parish
- Ouachita Parish
- Plaquemines Parish
- Pointe Coupee Parish
- Rapides Parish
- Red River Parish
- Richland Parish
- Sabine Parish
- St. Bernard Parish
- St. Charles Parish
- St. Helena Parish
- St. James Parish
- St. John the Baptist Parish
- St. Landry Parish
- St. Martin Parish
- St. Mary Parish
- St. Tammany Parish
- Tangipahoa Parish
- Tensas Parish
- Terrebonne Parish
- Union Parish
- Vermilion Parish
- Vernon Parish
- Washington Parish
- Webster Parish
- West Baton Rouge Parish
- West Carroll Parish
- West Feliciana Parish
- Winn Parish
Jobs and pay by industry in Louisiana
Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)
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| Industry | Jobs | 1-year change | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 300,083 | +2.1% | $58,069 |
| Retail trade | 212,707 | -1.1% | $36,845 |
| Accommodation and food services | 197,100 | +0.5% | $25,205 |
| Administrative and support services | 104,962 | -0.1% | $52,880 |
| Professional and technical services | 96,120 | -0.1% | $90,214 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 83,974 | +8.0% | $73,477 |
| Finance and insurance | 56,725 | 0.0% | $89,813 |
| Other services | 48,130 | +1.0% | $51,162 |
| Educational services | 35,926 | +0.2% | $55,419 |
| Real estate and rental | 30,247 | +0.1% | $66,073 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 28,758 | +2.6% | $49,255 |
| Management of companies | 20,821 | -2.6% | $125,807 |
Government employs 305,866 people (15.9% of all jobs): 31,578 federal, 76,660 state and 197,628 local.
Output and businesses in Louisiana
Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau
- GDP
- $329B
- 2024, current dollars
- Real GDP growth
- +3.3%
- Adjusted for inflation
- Employer businesses
- 108,561
- 1,697,330 employees
- Retail trade15,86814.6%
- Health care and social assistance13,33112.3%
- Professional and technical services12,49311.5%
- Accommodation and food services10,5489.7%
- Other services9,9529.2%
- Construction8,9008.2%
- Finance and insurance7,3286.8%
- Real estate and rental5,5155.1%
- Administrative and support services5,1694.8%
- Wholesale trade5,0134.6%
Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the unemployment rate in Louisiana?
- Louisiana's unemployment rate was 4.0% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
- Which county in Louisiana has the highest unemployment?
- East Carroll Parish has the highest rate at 9.1%, and West Feliciana Parish has the lowest at 2.8% (not seasonally adjusted).
- What is the largest industry in Louisiana?
- Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 300,083 jobs, followed by retail trade (212,707) and accommodation and food services (197,100).
- What is the average salary in Louisiana?
- The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in Louisiana was $63,090 in 2025, or $1,213 a week.
- How big is Louisiana's economy?
- Louisiana's GDP was $329B in 2024, about $71,594 per resident.