Louisiana Q4, 2019 Employment Statistics- 136,400 employers, up 2.0% from 133,791
- 1,932,707 employees, down 0.5% from 1,923,212
- $993 average weekly wage, up 2.5% from $969
- The average weekly wage is 16.2% below the national average
- The cost of living is 6.1% below the national average
Employer & Employee Growth
In the last year, the number of employers in the state increased by 2,609, which is an increase of 2.0%. The number of employees in Louisiana declined by 9,495, a decline of 0.5%. During this same period, the average weekly wage increased by $24, an increase of 2.5%.
The number of private employers increased since last years' Q1. The number of private businesses increased by 2,512 or 2.0%. Growth in private businesses in Louisiana grew slower than the national average of 2.5%. The number of employees in these businesses decreased since last years' Q1, declining by 10,873 or 0.7%. The growth in employees of private businesses in Louisiana was slower than the national average of 1.2%.
The average weekly wage of employees of private businesses increased since last years' Q1. The averge weekly wage increased by $25 or 2.5%. Growth in average weekly wage of employees of private businesses in Louisiana grew slower than the national average of 3.8%.
Leading Sectors
Businesses by Sector
The sector with the greatest number of businesses in the state is Retail trade with 13.1% of the businesses in the state. The number of businesses in this sector increased by 1.1%. Professional services (12.4%), which increased by 3.7% and Healthcare (10.9%), which increased by 3.9%, round out the 3 largest sectors.
Table: Sectors by Year-over-Year Qtly Business Change %
| Sector | Change Biz | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and entertainment | 103 | 5.6% |
| Information | 80 | 4.6% |
| Educational services | 66 | 4.5% |
| Healthcare | 563 | 3.9% |
| Professional services | 613 | 3.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 380 | 3.5% |
| Company management | 26 | 2.1% |
| Construction | 193 | 1.8% |
| Utilities | 8 | 1.6% |
| Transport and warehousing | 71 | 1.6% |
| Waste services | 101 | 1.4% |
| Mining and oil extraction | 22 | 1.3% |
| Real estate and rental | 70 | 1.3% |
| Retail trade | 189 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 0.4% |
| Other services | 38 | 0.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 0.1% |
| Finance and insurance | -14 | -0.2% |
| Agriculture and forestry | -14 | -0.9% |
Employees by Sector
The sector with the greatest number of employees in the state is Healthcare with 14.2% of the employees in the state, had an increase in employees of 1.4% in the last year. Retail trade (11.7%), decreased by 1.7% and Accommodation and food services (10.7%), decreased by 0.2%, round out the top 3 sectors.Table: Sectors by Year-over-Year Qtly Employee Change %
| Sector | Employee Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Educational services | 913 | 2.8% |
| Transport and warehousing | 1,893 | 2.6% |
| Real estate and rental | 713 | 2.3% |
| Healthcare | 3,734 | 1.4% |
| Professional services | 897 | 1.0% |
| Manufacturing | 998 | 0.7% |
| Arts and entertainment | 108 | 0.4% |
| Waste services | 240 | 0.2% |
| Other services | 12 | 0.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | -499 | -0.2% |
| Mining and oil extraction | -245 | -0.7% |
| Wholesale trade | -510 | -0.7% |
| Company management | -172 | -0.7% |
| Utilities | -77 | -0.9% |
| Finance and insurance | -706 | -1.3% |
| Information | -368 | -1.7% |
| Retail trade | -3,976 | -1.7% |
| Agriculture and forestry | -201 | -2.1% |
| Construction | -13,617 | -8.9% |
Average Weekly Wage by Sector
The sector that pays their employees the highest is Mining and oil extraction paying $1,911per week compared with the state average of $1,006. Weekly wages in this sector rose by $67 or 3.6%. Utilities ($1,613), rose by $13 or 0.8% and Professional services ($1,613) increased by $40 or 2.5% round out the 3 largest sectors.Table: Sectors by Year-over-Year Weekly Wage Change %
| Sector | Wage Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and entertainment | $87 | 10.3% |
| Educational services | $55 | 6.6% |
| Healthcare | $39 | 4.4% |
| Mining and oil extraction | $67 | 3.6% |
| Waste services | $27 | 3.5% |
| Other services | $26 | 3.4% |
| Transport and warehousing | $35 | 3.1% |
| Finance and insurance | $42 | 3.0% |
| Retail trade | $14 | 2.5% |
| Professional services | $40 | 2.5% |
| Manufacturing | $35 | 2.4% |
| Construction | $29 | 2.2% |
| Wholesale trade | $28 | 2.1% |
| Information | $19 | 1.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | $5 | 1.3% |
| Real estate and rental | $10 | 1.0% |
| Utilities | $13 | 0.8% |
| Agriculture and forestry | $-7 | -0.7% |
| Company management | $-92 | -5.6% |
Leading Industries
Businesses by Industry
Each broad sector is made up of specific industries. In Louisiana. the industry with the most businesses is Restaurants and other eating places with 6.2% of the businesses in the state (with 8,437 employing 155,191 workers). The Restaurants and other eating places industry had 263 more businesses, an increase of 3.2% in the last year. Offices of physicians (2.7% of businesses) added 84 businesses, an increase of 2.3% and Offices of lawyers (2.7% of businesses) added 14 businesses, an increase of 0.4% round out the 3 industries with the most businesses.Table: Top 7 Industries by Business Change %
| Industry | Business Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Hay farming | 2 | 200.0% |
| Trusts estates and agency accounts | 27 | 71.1% |
| Coffee and tea manufacturing | 9 | 56.2% |
| Other performing arts companies | 5 | 55.6% |
| Photofinishing | 2 | 50.0% |
| Other specialized design services | 13 | 46.4% |
| Amusement and theme parks | 3 | 42.9% |
Table: Top 7 Industries by Business Change #
| Industry | Business Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and other eating places | 263 | 3.2% |
| Services for the elderly and disabled | 214 | 12.4% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 171 | 8.4% |
| All other professional and technical services | 122 | 15.9% |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 94 | 3.7% |
| Offices of physicians | 84 | 2.3% |
| All other specialty trade contractors | 68 | 8.9% |
Employees by Industry
Offices of physicians (2.7% of employees) added 84 employees, an increase of 2.3% and Offices of lawyers (2.7% ofemployees) added 14 employees, an increase of 0.4% round out the 3 industries with the most employees.Table: Top 7 Industries by Employee Change %
| Industry | Emp Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Trusts estates and agency accounts | 106 | 129.5% |
| Other performing arts companies | 29 | 113.5% |
| Amusement and theme parks | 117 | 99.2% |
| Metal can box and other container mfg. | 43 | 93.4% |
| Political organizations | 30 | 79.0% |
| All other wood product manufacturing | 264 | 78.7% |
| Port and harbor operations | 511 | 77.3% |
Table: Top 7 Industries by Employee Change #
| Industry | Emp Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 1,529 | 2.4% |
| Petrochemical manufacturing | 1,434 | 34.2% |
| Other outpatient care centers | 818 | 12.2% |
| Other machinery rental and leasing | 670 | 22.7% |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 665 | 4.7% |
| Navigational services to shipping | 597 | 11.2% |
| Office administrative services | 596 | 6.4% |
Average Weekly Wage by Industry
The industry that pays their employees the most is Other financial vehicles, paying $10,900 compared with the state average of $1,006. Employees in the Other financial vehicles industry were paid $810 more per week, an increase of 8.0% in the last year. Spectator sports ($6,689) and Health and welfare funds ($6,590) round out the top 3 industries. Employees in the Spectator sports ($6,689 per week) were paid $2,103 more per week, an increase of 45.9% and Health and welfare funds ($6,590 per week) were paid $1,515 more per week, an increase of 29.9% round out the 3 industries that pay their employees the most.Table: Top 7 Industries by Wage Change %
| Industry | Wkly Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Other petroleum and coal products mfg. | $2,985 | 219.8% |
| All other schools and instruction | $236 | 61.5% |
| Industrial design services | $580 | 55.3% |
| Building inspection services | $542 | 50.0% |
| Political organizations | $309 | 48.7% |
| Spectator sports | $2,103 | 45.9% |
| Other nondurable goods merchant wholesalers | $413 | 45.6% |
Table: Top 7 Industries by Wage Change $
| Industry | Wkly Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Other petroleum and coal products mfg. | $2,985 | 219.8% |
| Spectator sports | $2,103 | 45.9% |
| Health and welfare funds | $1,515 | 29.9% |
| Independent artists writers and performers | $1,180 | 23.4% |
| Other financial vehicles | $810 | 8.0% |
| Book publishers | $766 | 43.5% |
| Other electrical equipment and component mfg. | $638 | 34.0% |
Company Size
Louisiana Businesses by Size
The solopreneur company, has the most businesses in Louisiana by far. 58.1% of all businesses in the state have fewer than 5 employees. The 123,149 small businesses in the state represent 95.5% of all private businesses. The national average is 91.2%. (Small businesses have fewer than 50 employees, Solopreneurs employ fewer than 5.) Louisiana added 3,994 businesses in the last year, an increase of 3.2% as compared to the national average of 3.0%.Small businesses are defined as companies with fewer than 50 employees. These small businesses added 3,971 businesses in the last year, which is an increase of 3.3% as compared to the national average of 3.1%.
Mid-sized businesses are defined as companies with between 50 and 499 employees. These mid-sized businesses added 29 businesses in the last year, which is an increase of 0.5% as compared to the national average of 1.3%.
Large businesses are defined as companies with more than 500 employees. These large businesses declined 6 businesses in the last year, which is a decrease of 3.2% as compared to the national average of 2.1%.
Louisiana Employees by Business Size
Louisiana added 27,753 employees in the last year, an increase of 1.8% as compared to the national average of 5.2%. Small businesses are defined as companies with fewer than 50 employees. These small businesses added 16,840 businesses in the last year, which is an increase of 15.8% as compared to the national average of 4.2%.Mid-sized businesses are defined as companies with between 50 and 499 employees. Mid-sized businesses added 18,135 employees in the last year, which is an increase of 3.0% as compared to the national average of 4.7%.
Large businesses are defined as companies with more than 500 employees. Large businesses lost 7,222 employees in the last year, which is a decrease of 3.4% as compared to the national average of 9.2%.
Louisiana Avg Weekly Wages by Business Size
Louisiana workers in every size business are paid less than the national average. The smallest companies in Louisiana (those with fewer than 5 employees) pay workers 8.4% less than the national average ($927 per week as compared to the national average of $1,005 per week). The largest companies in Louisiana (those with more than 1,000 employees) pay 47.5% workers below the national average ($1,297 per week as compared to the national average of $1,913 per week).Average weekly wages in small businesses added $86 per week in the last year, which is an increase of 2.7% as compared to the national average of 3.1%. Employees of mid-sized businesses added $88 in wages per week in the last year, which is an increase of 2.9% as compared to the national average of 1.3%.
Employees of large businesses lost $118 of weekly wages in the last year, which is a decrease of 4.2% as compared to the national average of 2.1%.
Top Industries for Business and Employment
The table below illustrates the largest industries in the state, by number of businesses:Table: Top 10 Industries by # of Businesses
| Industry | # Businesses | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and other eating places | 8,437 | 3.2% |
| Offices of physicians | 3,748 | 2.3% |
| Offices of lawyers | 3,622 | 0.4% |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 2,615 | 3.7% |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 2,610 | -1.5% |
| Accounting and bookkeeping services | 2,269 | 1.3% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 2,209 | 8.4% |
| Private households | 2,056 | -3.8% |
| Services for the elderly and disabled | 1,937 | 12.4% |
| Residential building construction | 1,793 | 1.1% |
The table below illustrates the largest industries in the state, by number of employees:
Table: Top 10 Industries by # of Employees
| Industry | # Employees | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and other eating places | 155,191 | 0.1% |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 65,153 | 2.4% |
| General merchandise stores including warehouse clubs and supercenters | 43,365 | -2.1% |
| Offices of physicians | 41,643 | 0.4% |
| Supermarkets and other grocery stores | 32,172 | -0.1% |
| Nursing care facilities skilled nursing | 27,040 | 1.3% |
| Support activities for mining | 26,829 | -1.5% |
| Temporary help services | 26,435 | -2.0% |
| Services for the elderly and disabled | 25,366 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 22,420 | -0.7% |
The table below illustrates the largest industries in the state, by highest wages:
Table: Top 10 Industries by Weekly Wage
| Industry | Wkly Wages | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Other financial vehicles | $10,900 | 8.0% |
| Spectator sports | $6,689 | 45.9% |
| Health and welfare funds | $6,590 | 29.9% |
| Independent artists writers and performers | $6,227 | 23.4% |
| Investment banking and securities dealing | $5,098 | 10.5% |
| Other petroleum and coal products mfg. | $4,343 | 219.8% |
| Securities brokerage | $3,361 | 1.7% |
| Crude petroleum extraction | $2,904 | 2.1% |
| Fishing | $2,799 | -6.3% |
| Petroleum refineries | $2,620 | 4.3% |
Data Sources
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