Baton Rouge area sees all-time high in jobs, report shows

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Baton Rouge Area Chamber released its monthly economic indicator dashboard Thursday and reported that jobs are at an all-time high.

“The Capital Region continues to keep pace with its peer metros regarding jobs and the economy, the region is at an all-time high for jobs and boasts an unemployment rate right at 3%, signaling a tight labor market,” said Andrew Fitzgerald, BRAC senior vice president of business intelligence.

According to BRAC, the Economic Indicator Dashboard looks at data to determine the economy’s current state. With data from several regional stakeholders, the dashboard is the most up-to-date analysis of the city’s economy.

Key findings from the dashboard showed that the capital region’s construction industry continuously grew with 1,100 new jobs in April. It also said unemployment dropped based on the most recent federal data.

According to BRAC, job postings decreased over the last year but, labor demands remain high.

Hotel revenues were lower this week than in past years and Baton Rouge’s population has dropped since 2020, while the rest of the area has seen moderate growth, the dashboard said.

“As we continue to work at retaining and attracting talent for the 18,000+ currently open jobs, it’s key that the City of Baton Rouge serves as a magnet to draw young professionals to the Capital Region,” Fitzgerald said.