BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry released its 2026 LA Driven Annual Report, outlining measurable gains in job growth, wage growth and education outcomes as part of its strategy to improve the state’s economic competitiveness by 2030.
The second annual report tracks progress under LABI’s LA Driven strategic plan, which aims to position Louisiana as an economic leader in the South. The document evaluates performance across key economic indicators and benchmarks tied to 2030 targets.
“Louisiana is gaining real momentum,” said Will Green, LABI president and CEO. “After years of lagging behind our Southern peers, we are now seeing tangible improvements in job growth, wage growth and foundational education outcomes. That progress is the result of intentional, coordinated actions and reflects focused, pro-growth policy decisions and a renewed commitment to competitiveness.”
After more than a decade ranking among the bottom five states for job growth, Louisiana reached two major milestones outlined in the plan.
Louisiana ranks 24th nationally for new job creation, adding 19,100 nonfarm jobs from August 2024 to August 2025. The ranking places the state in the middle third nationally, meeting the report’s 2030 job growth benchmark ahead of schedule.
Private-sector wages increased 3.52 percent from 2024 to 2025, also ranking 24th nationally and meeting the wage growth benchmark of reaching the middle third of states by 2030.
The report also highlights progress in education and workforce readiness. Louisiana’s high school graduation rate reached 85 percent in 2025, moving toward a 2030 goal of 88 percent. Third-grade reading proficiency rose to 47 percent in 2025, advancing toward a target of 66 percent by 2030.
Improvement across these metrics has contributed to upward movement in national business climate rankings, according to the report, a factor viewed as significant for employers and investors considering expansion or relocation.
“Competitiveness is not about a single metric. It’s about building an environment where businesses can grow, workers can succeed and families can prosper,” Green said. “While we’ve cleared important milestones, we cannot afford complacency. Population trends, workforce shortages and global competition remain real challenges. Staying on this trajectory will require continued focus on workforce development, public safety and a stable, predictable legal and business climate.”
The report also identifies opportunities in energy innovation, artificial intelligence and data infrastructure, and calls for coordinated action among policymakers, employers and educators to meet future workforce demands.
“The data in this report makes it clear that when Louisiana’s leaders prioritize growth, we can change the trajectory of our state,” Green said. “If we stay disciplined, continue reform and embrace innovation, we have the opportunity to turn today’s momentum into long-term, sustainable economic strength.”