BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Economic Development said 2025 was the largest year for capital investment and job creation in the state’s history, with more than $61 billion in announced projects and over 9,300 direct new jobs since January.
The agency said the new jobs carry an estimated average annual salary of $91,000, about $30,000 higher than the state average.
“This is what winning looks like, for we are no longer defined by what we were, but what we are becoming. Louisiana has entered a new era of growth powered by businesses that believe in Louisiana and our people,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement. “As we carry this momentum into the new year, one thing is clear: there is now a new standard for how Louisiana competes and wins.”
LED said Louisiana is ending the year with what it described as strong momentum. In the past few weeks, more than $11.2 billion in new investment and nearly 2,500 new jobs have been announced across the state, according to the agency.
Recent project announcements highlighted by LED include:
- Saronic Technologies Inc.: A planned $300 million investment to expand the Franklin shipyard and increase large-scale autonomous vessel production.
- SLB: A $30 million expansion to double its Shreveport footprint, supporting demand for digital infrastructure and advanced technology manufacturing.
- Epic Piping: A $25 million expansion of its corporate headquarters in Livingston to increase capacity to serve natural gas, nuclear and data center markets.
- Element USA: An $850 million investment in a rare-earth and critical mineral refining facility in southeast Louisiana, aimed at supporting supply chains for advanced manufacturing, defense and energy technologies.
- Hut 8: A planned $10 billion investment to build an AI data center in West Feliciana Parish to support customer Fluidstack, which the company said is backed by Google.
“Louisiana’s performance this year shows what is possible when we align our strategy with the needs of our workers and the ambitions of our businesses,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “The growth we are seeing isn’t just measured in investment; it’s measured in the quality of jobs being created. With new positions averaging more than $91,000 annually, more Louisiana families are accessing the kinds of wages that change lives. This is the progress we planned for, and it is only the beginning.”
LED said the 2025 results reflect progress throughout the year. As the agency approaches its 90th anniversary in 2026, officials said it will continue to focus on capital investment and job creation initiatives.