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News Release Information

24-1945-DAL
Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (972) 850-4800

Parish Employment and Wages in Louisiana – First Quarter 2024

Employment rose in four of the seven largest parishes in Louisiana from March 2023 to March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties and parishes are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that East Baton Rouge Parish had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 3.8 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

 

National employment increased 1.3 percent over the year, with 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Monterey, CA, and St. Johns, FL, had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 4.8 percent each. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-4.9 percent).

Among the seven largest parishes in Louisiana, employment was highest in East Baton Rouge Parish (270,300) in March 2024. Within East Baton Rouge Parish’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the seven largest Louisiana parishes accounted for 56.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total covered U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 57 parishes in Louisiana with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 52 of the 57 smaller parishes were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large parish wage changes

All seven large Louisiana parishes reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) East Baton Rouge Parish had the largest gain (+5.4 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Louisiana’s remaining six large parishes ranged from 3.3 percent to 1.9 percent.

 

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.2 percent over the year. Among the 369 largest counties in the United States, 357 had over-the-year wage increases. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+14.6 percent). Saginaw, MI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-3.4 percent).

Large parish average weekly wages

Weekly wages in all seven large parishes in Louisiana were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. Orleans Parish ($1,354, 156th) had an average weekly wage ranked among the top half of counties and parishes nationwide.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($4,385). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 284 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($807).

Average weekly wages in Louisiana's smaller parishes

Among the 57 smaller parishes in Louisiana—those with employment below 75,000— five parishes reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Cameron Parish ($2,862) reported the highest average weekly wage. Catahoula Parish ($710) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 64 parishes in Louisiana were considered, 8 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 23 registered wages from $800 to $949, 11 had wages from $950 to $1,099, 9 registered wages from $1,100 to $1,249, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,250 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying parishes were concentrated around the metropolitan areas of Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and New Orleans. The lowest-paid parishes, those with weekly wages under $800, were concentrated in non-metropolitan areas in the state’s northeastern quadrant.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by Parish in Louisiana, first quarter 2024

(U.S. average = $1,527)

 
Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Changes for the 2024 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties and parishes with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2023 are included in this release and will be included in future 2024 releases. Seven counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Martin, FL; Sarpy, NE; Doña Ana, NM; Kent, RI; Ector, TX; Gregg, TX; and Racine, WI. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.

New Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) definitions, and those for other types of Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), were announced in July 2023. With the full data update for first quarter 2024 on September 4, 2024, QCEW data reflect the new definitions. Data based on the new area definitions are available in the BLS online database. Historical data will not be re-tabulated to reflect the new definitions. The announcement regarding new metropolitan statistical area delineations for 2024 provides more information regarding the new area definitions.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the seven largest parishes in Louisiana, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,169.0153,585.61.3--1,527--4.2--

Louisiana

154.51,904.20.7--1,195394.024

Caddo

7.9107.1-0.33251,1053233.1247

Calcasieu

6.088.1-0.13081,1962542.8270

East Baton Rouge

19.1270.33.851,3011875.440

Jefferson

15.9182.2-0.93541,2342272.9259

Lafayette

12.0135.50.42721,1163162.7277

Orleans

17.1187.20.22821,3541563.3222

St. Tammany

10.895.51.21731,1532921.9334

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all parishes in Louisiana, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment March 2024Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,169,000153,585,5761,527

Louisiana

154,4771,904,1561,195

Acadia

1,47214,355831

Allen

4447,416901

Ascension

3,88951,1901,449

Assumption

3293,8291,061

Avoyelles

9289,701772

Beauregard

8539,084984

Bienville

3103,6621,001

Bossier

3,62743,962998

Caddo

7,884107,0731,105

Calcasieu

6,04088,1001,196

Caldwell

2332,238746

Cameron

1564,1462,862

Catahoula

2732,248710

Claiborne

2722,989884

Concordia

4895,310900

De Soto

6558,4541,359

East Baton Rouge

19,088270,2601,301

East Carroll

1701,398841

East Feliciana

4025,1491,051

Evangeline

6537,780808

Franklin

4874,612715

Grant

2883,2711,038

Iberia

1,88723,7361,131

Iberville

82516,5321,776

Jackson

3233,7871,031

Jefferson

15,854182,2191,234

Jefferson Davis

8048,049840

Lafayette

11,968135,4711,116

Lafourche

2,20634,5171,280

LaSalle

4644,658899

Lincoln

1,51118,468899

Livingston

3,06331,099868

Madison

2663,050724

Morehouse

5806,018826

Natchitoches

1,05914,353843

Orleans

17,106187,2291,354

Ouachita

5,33769,322947

Plaquemines

88011,9901,692

Pointe Coupee

5345,5081,053

Rapides

4,09755,808999

Red River

1942,484976

Richland

5636,137814

Sabine

5895,364846

St. Bernard

99510,9241,239

St. Charles

1,43125,1002,127

St. Helena

1351,645911

St. James

4727,6611,590

St. John the Baptist

99312,8631,382

St. Landry

2,09023,389903

St. Martin

1,12012,0911,059

St. Mary

1,42519,8521,190

St. Tammany

10,79395,5311,153

Tangipahoa

3,70247,261880

Tensas

135807793

Terrebonne

3,33247,5221,181

Union

4615,361776

Vermilion

1,33612,379887

Vernon

1,06412,826913

Washington

89711,119858

Webster

99011,187927

West Baton Rouge

85313,4771,307

West Carroll

2301,970742

West Feliciana

3164,8241,467

Winn

3474,381918

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2024
StateEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,169.0153,585.61.31,527--4.2--

Alabama

160.72,091.91.61,201373.344

Alaska

25.2318.12.21,374225.62

Arizona

229.43,257.02.91,372233.146

Arkansas

104.61,292.81.41,171444.024

California

1,835.818,053.01.51,83355.53

Colorado

264.42,851.40.31,61383.538

Connecticut

149.51,661.91.01,90844.418

Delaware

43.0469.31.81,484153.733

District of Columbia

52.3759.80.72,43414.024

Florida

898.99,863.22.11,384204.220

Georgia

401.44,843.91.31,441174.712

Hawaii

58.6638.80.61,278294.810

Idaho

98.5835.81.91,130474.122

Illinois

410.25,966.90.31,60892.750

Indiana

195.23,148.30.61,271305.71

Iowa

110.81,543.10.91,214363.245

Kansas

100.71,415.70.71,199383.832

Kentucky

155.81,987.21.41,178423.443

Louisiana

154.51,904.20.71,195394.024

Maine

65.0626.41.31,249345.24

Maryland

198.42,690.00.81,591104.516

Massachusetts

287.43,599.00.52,01534.98

Michigan

338.64,351.01.01,352243.538

Minnesota

210.52,850.40.21,519144.024

Mississippi

89.51,157.20.2980513.636

Missouri

257.52,882.51.01,269313.733

Montana

61.8503.11.21,126494.418

Nebraska

76.01,007.31.51,195392.651

Nevada

112.11,534.42.41,304284.712

New Hampshire

65.9680.01.11,531134.712

New Jersey

335.64,218.81.31,76173.538

New Mexico

67.9861.51.61,159454.810

New York

709.59,537.41.82,08923.538

North Carolina

395.74,871.01.81,401184.024

North Dakota

36.1419.91.61,261333.733

Ohio

337.05,452.80.81,315254.024

Oklahoma

132.91,690.01.71,152464.024

Oregon

198.91,971.9-0.31,377213.146

Pennsylvania

392.05,967.01.11,449163.048

Rhode Island

48.5483.91.11,387194.024

South Carolina

184.62,265.92.11,194414.98

South Dakota

39.9449.72.01,129484.220

Tennessee

230.13,261.31.91,311273.538

Texas

839.613,826.91.71,540124.122

Utah

135.71,699.61.91,313265.24

Vermont

32.8307.30.61,232353.636

Virginia

318.34,072.61.61,554115.24

Washington

224.33,577.31.31,81565.17

West Virginia

60.8694.01.61,110504.615

Wisconsin

206.02,899.10.61,263324.516

Wyoming

30.8274.11.11,177432.849

Puerto Rico

54.7952.81.6677(3)4.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.936.50.9996(3)1.6(3)

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024