The job numbers for metro Baton Rouge have been more or less flat over the past year, which suggests the region hasn’t yet hit bottom and started its post-recession rebound, economist Loren Scott says. However, Scott is optimistic about the area’s immediate future. The petrochemical sector is having a strong year and several plant expansions are in the works, thanks to cheap natural gas and a weak dollar, which makes their products more attractive abroad. Projects such as the SNF polymers plant in Iberville Parish and the Point Bio Energy wood pellet plant at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge should boost the local economy. And now that the Legislature has come and gone, apparently without causing massive layoffs downtown or at the universities, Scott doesn’t see anything on the horizon that could kill the momentum. “My hope is that as we get into the latter part of the summer, you’re going to start seeing the employment numbers turn around,” he says.
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber expects job numbers to improve by year’s end, says Adam Knapp, president and CEO. Knapp says BRAC worked on projects that have announced a total of 650 jobs since January, on top of almost 800 announced in 2010. He says many projects are expected to begin hiring in the second half of this year. —David Jacobs
