Wage growth along the corridor is among the nation’s best

Wages in parishes along the corridor were among the fastest-growing in the country last year. A report released yesterday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Calcasieu and East Baton Rouge parishes were ranked third and fourth in the United States for weekly wage increases at the end of 2008. Average wages went up 9% in Calcasieu when compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, to $832 a week, while East Baton Rouge saw an 8% increase over the year, to an average of $874 a week. Out of the 335 largest counties in the country, only St. Louis City, Mo. [a 56.8% increase to $1,508 a week], and Clayton, Ga. [a 9.9% increase to $856 a week], saw bigger increases. Nationally, the average weekly wage went up 2.2% from the end of 2007 to the end of 2008, to $918 a week. All of the corridor parishes that made the BLS list had increases above the national average: Lafayette wages were up 4.8% to $911 a week, while Orleans had a 4.2% increase to $1,002 a week and Jefferson was up 4% to an average of $876. Adam Knapp, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, says the increases are impressive, considering that Baton Rouge is also a national leader in the number of new jobs being added. “Seeing two vital economic indicators like wages and jobs increasing in tandem proves strong economic stability, especially amidst a national recession,” Knapp says.