BOSSIER CITY, La. — Barksdale Air Force Base generated nearly $1.4 billion in economic impact during fiscal year 2025, an increase of roughly $300 million from the previous year, according to the installation’s latest Economic Impact Statement.
The FY2025 report places Barksdale’s total economic impact at $1.3997 billion, reflecting more than $654 million in payroll, $573.4 million in major expenditures and an estimated $172.2 million in economic activity generated through jobs created outside the installation.
Barksdale Forward President Eric Barkley highlighted the new figures Tuesday during a presentation to the Bossier City Council.
“Barksdale is an economic impact in our community of $1.4 billion in 2025,” Barkley told council members. “That’s a $300 million increase over 2024, and I expect it to continue to grow.”
The new figure represents a significant increase from Barksdale’s approximately $1.1 billion economic impact reported for FY2024.
Payroll tops $654 million
Barksdale reported 6,762 military personnel and 2,573 civilian personnel in FY2025, along with 7,116 dependents, bringing the total population associated with the installation to 16,451.
Military payroll totaled approximately $478.3 million, including $445.6 million for active-duty personnel and $32.7 million for reservists.
Civilian payroll added another $175.8 million, led by approximately $161.3 million for appropriated-fund civilian employees.
Beyond payroll, Barksdale recorded $573.4 million in major expenditures during the fiscal year. The largest components included approximately $333.1 million in military construction, $73 million in service contracts, $69.7 million in operations and maintenance construction and $60.5 million in health and TRICARE expenditures.
The report estimates Barksdale’s activity supported an additional 3,234 jobs in the surrounding economy, with an average annual salary of $53,248. The estimated annual value of those jobs was approximately $172.2 million.
Barksdale remains major regional economic engine
Barkley told council members that Barksdale’s importance extends beyond its direct workforce.
“A strong military installation is made all the better by a strong community that supports it behind the scenes,” Barkley said.
The base is home to Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force, the active-duty 2nd Bomb Wing and the Air Force Reserve Command’s 307th Bomb Wing.
Barksdale’s FY2025 Economic Impact Statement also lists 47 B-52 Stratofortress bombers assigned to the installation. The base encompasses 22,000 acres and includes 518 structures totaling more than 7.1 million square feet.
The estimated replacement value of Barksdale’s facilities and infrastructure is approximately $3.79 billion.
Barkley appeared before the council in part to discuss Shreveport-Bossier’s designation as a Great American Defense Community by the Association of Defense Communities. The region was one of three communities nationally selected for the 2026 recognition.
Barkley said the designation reflects the relationship between Barksdale and the surrounding community and the region’s continuing efforts to protect and grow the installation’s missions.
“Our mission that we hold dear is to protect the mission at the base, to try to grow the mission where we can, to advocate for anything that the base needs, and to educate,” Barkley said.