How many jobs were added in last month?

Updated May. 22, 2026Refreshed monthly
Louisiana gained 4,000 jobs in April 2026, ranking it 21st among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 2,300 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.

+4K

month to month change in number of jobs (April 2026)

21st

rank among states in monthly job growth (April 2026)
April 2026's gain of 4,000 jobs was the 7th consecutive month of positive job growth in Louisiana. Monthly job growth was the same as the 4,000 new jobs in March 2026.
During the latest five year period (May 2021 to April 2026), Louisiana gained jobs in 45 out of 60 months. April 2026 had the 22nd-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+46,000) while job growth was weakest in September 2021 (-41,800).

There were 4,000 more jobs in April 2026 in Louisiana than the previous month.

Monthly change in nonfarm employment, May 2021–April 2026, seasonally adjusted

Which Louisiana sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in April 2026?

The three supersectors with the highest job growth in April 2026 were health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, and other services. Health care and social assistance added 1,600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Accommodation and food services gained 1,100 jobs, while other services added 600 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.

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The health care and social assistance sector gained 1,600 jobs during April 2026.

Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Louisiana (April 2026)

How does Louisiana's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?

In 2025, the state has gained an average of 292 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 1,900, and the smallest since 2024. The 2025 average ranks as the 14th-highest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 5,200 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 4,100 on average every month in 2007.

In 2025, Louisiana gained an average of 292 jobs every month.

Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted

Job growth among 10 metro areas primarily in Louisiana during April 2026 ranged from a gain of 0 jobs in the Hammond, LA area to a gain of 1,200 jobs in the New Orleans, LA area metro area.

Monthly job growth, by metro area

Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Louisiana

Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areaChange in jobs

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.