BATON ROUGE, La. — Six industrial megaprojects under development in Louisiana are projected to employ as many as 20,500 construction workers at peak activity, according to a new report from Leaders for a Better Louisiana.
The analysis, released this week, forecasts that employment demand tied to the projects will crest in late 2026 and early 2027, representing nearly one-quarter of the state’s current industrial construction workforce.
Projects include Meta’s planned AI data center and Entergy’s supporting power facility in Richland Parish, two liquefied natural gas export projects in southwest Louisiana, and major expansions by CF Industries and Hyundai Steel in Ascension Parish.
“This is a unique moment when north and south Louisiana are seeing significant construction activity at the same time,” said Adam Knapp, CEO of Better Louisiana. “It presents an opportunity for Louisiana and the state’s construction workforce.”
Regional labor demand is expected to vary widely. Monroe’s industrial construction workforce could grow to nearly four times its current size during peak construction, while Lake Charles demand is projected to more than double. Baton Rouge, which already has a large base of industrial talent, is forecast to see steady growth.
The report notes that previous construction surges have driven population growth in Louisiana. Between 2012 and 2018, the state added nearly 30,000 industrial construction jobs and more than 62,000 residents.
Workforce preparation efforts are already underway. Louisiana State University has more than doubled annual graduates in its construction management program, while the Louisiana Community and Technical College System has received national recognition for training initiatives.
The report highlights policy considerations including housing, workforce training, and talent retention. It concludes that Louisiana’s experience managing past growth waves and ongoing investment in education and workforce systems leave the state well-positioned to capture the benefits of the new cycle.
The full report is available at www.betterla.org/research.