Louisiana Continues to Gain PopulationCensus gains accompany growth in jobs, business investment, as Louisiana is adding jobs at twice the rate of the South, U.S.
According to new data released last week by the U.S. Census, Louisiana continues to have more people moving into the state than moving out.
Louisiana gained more than 6,100 people through net migration for the year ending July 1, 2011, as well as more than 12,000 people through net migration for the period of April 1, 2010 through July 1, 2011, which previously had not been reported. The U.S. Census Bureau's latest measure of population patterns continues a strong trend for Louisiana after the state experienced more than 20 consecutive years of more people leaving Louisiana than moving into the state.
The positive in-migration numbers accompany continued strong economic growth for Louisiana. For example, Louisiana has had 14 consecutive months of year-over-year private sector job growth. Over the last 12 months, Louisiana has experienced a 2.5 percent job growth rate, while the South and the U.S. as a whole grew by just 1.2 percent. Additionally, Louisiana and Texas are the only two states in the South that have more jobs today than they had at the beginning of the national recession.
Governor Bobby Jindal said, "Finding a good job opportunity is the most common reason that people move, and these new numbers continue to show that more people are moving to Louisiana because there are job opportunities here. Every single day we are putting the old years of out-migration farther and farther behind us because we have created a strong business climate where businesses want to invest and create jobs. The Census' report is great news, but we have more work to do, and we will not rest until Louisiana is the best place in the world to find a job and raise a family."
Since 2008, the state has attracted business development projects that will result in more than 46,000 new jobs and more than $10.5 billion in private capital investment.
Louisiana has recently earned its highest-ever position on every major national ranking of state business climates, including those published by Chief Executive magazine, Forbes, Site Selection magazine, CNBC, Business Facilities magazine, Beacon Hill Institute, Area Development magazine, and Pollina Corporate Real Estate. Additionally, three of those national rankings - Area Development, Business Facilities and Site Selection - now rank Louisiana among the top 10 states for business in the U.S.