Louisiana Named Second-Worst State in America for Jobs

The health of our economy has been a hot-button topic since the pandemic, especially during this heated-up election year. And here in Louisiana, things are no different.

Economic and business leaders want to create new jobs in the Bayou State and keep good-paying jobs as well.

However, if you believe the latest report from WalletHub regarding the "Best & Worst States for Jobs," it's not looking so good for Louisiana workers.

Where does Louisiana rank in WalletHub's list of "Best & Worst States for Jobs?"

According to this latest report, Louisiana ranks #49 overall for jobs in America.

How was this "Best & Worst States for Jobs" list comprised?

WalletHub compared the 50 states across 34 key indicators of job-market strength and economic vitality. The data looked at several things from employment growth to the median annual income to the average commute time.

A breakdown of how Louisiana did in this report.

Here are some of the results for Louisiana and where we rank in each category:

• 30th - Job Opportunities
• 33rd - Employment Growth
• 27th - Monthly Average Starting Salary
• 27th - Unemployment Rate
• 47th - Median Annual Income (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
• 45th - Average Length of Work Week (in Hours)
• 34th - Average Commute Time (in Minutes)

The below map shows how each state ranks overall. (Hover over a state to see its ranking.)

What is the best state for jobs in America?

New Hampshire is the best state for jobs, due in large part to one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, at just 2%, along with the third-most job opportunities per capita.

Here's how the top 10 looks:

1. New Hampshire
2. Vermont
3. Minnesota
4. Massachusetts
5. North Dakota
6. Virginia
7. Maine
8. Rhode Island
9. South Dakota
10. Maryland

What can we expect from the job market in 2025?

WalletHub asked several experts to get their take on the job market in America. Here are a couple of opinions regarding the topic.

“In 2025, the U.S. job market is expected to remain dynamic, with technology reshaping many sectors. I see high-demand roles will center around a combination of technical (particularly digital), statistical and data, and human relations skills. This will require workers to develop skills that are portable across multiple types of jobs. Organizations need adaptable skill sets that can be used across the organization. In other words, employment will become less about a specific job and more about a set of skills that can be used as needed by the organization.” C. Darren Brooks, Ph.D. – MBA Program Director; Assistant Department Chair; Senior Lecturer, Florida State University

“According to a report from the World Economic Forum, job displacement due to technological advances will unfold. We will see job displacement for certain types of work-related tasks and jobs while there will likely be more steady growth in jobs that require managing, advising, decision making.” Saba Rasheed Ali, Ph.D. – Professor; Associate Dean for Research, University of Iowa

The complete WalletHub "Best & Worst States for Jobs" report

To view all the findings in this study from WalletHub, click here.