In its recently released “Best States for Business” rankings, Forbes placed Louisiana at No. 29, up from No. 40 just a year earlier. In his new column, Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister says perhaps “the real story is that Louisiana in 2008 was near rock bottom of this list at No. 49.”
But the Forbes ranking is not the only recognition of Louisiana’s progress, McCollister says, noting that Site Selection magazine has ranked Louisiana at its highest level ever on the publication’s annual list of the best states for business climate. Also, Louisiana’s nonfarm employment is now just 3,200 jobs short of reaching the 2 million mark—a record number. And then there’s the latest BRAC economic outlook, which shows employment in the Baton Rouge region hit its highest level ever in September, at 398,800, representing the second year in a row that the region has broken its employment record.
McCollister also notes a survey associated with the BRAC forecast revealed that 88% of respondents expect local economic growth to continue in 2015, and a majority of respondents expect further employment growth.
“It appears that despite the tremendous growth of the last few years, 2015 can be even better with new records set for jobs in Louisiana,” McCollister writes. Read the full column, in which McCollister also touches on Louisiana’s fight against human trafficking, spending in recent elections and plans for a new south branch library. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.
