Andrew Fitzgerald | Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Andrew Fitzgerald | Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Gonzales Weekly Citizen
According to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s monthly economic indicator dashboard, the Capital region has a record-low unemployment rate and the largest labor force since 2018.
“While employment in the Capital region is at an all-time high and nearly every parish has seen a year-over-year increase in wages – both positive indicators of economic health – these positives bring on other factors to turn focus to,” said Andrew Fitzgerald, senior vice president of business intelligence for BRAC. “The high level of employment and low unemployment rate mean that businesses looking to grow their workforce will have a harder time doing so, as there are nearly three job openings for every resident out of work but looking for a job.
“These new factors give way to the increased need for talent retention and attraction efforts, which are key priorities in BRAC’s five-year strategic plan. So, although there are many positive data points as one looks at the Baton Rouge metro economy, there are still other key factors we must observe and tackle as our economy continues to grow.”
Key findings also included:
- Nonfarm jobs and employment both increased by about 6,000 jobs/workers in the past two months;
- 2,400 new jobs in November caps off five consecutive months of job gains;
- Revenues per hotel room remain above pre-pandemic levels;
- All peer metros have added jobs in the past year, and Baton Rouge is just 0.5 percent away from recovering all jobs lost during COVID; and,
- Average weekly wage growth in some industries, parishes kept up inflation during 2022.
BRAC also announced the members of its Leadership Baton Rouge class of 2023. The selected participants represent a cross-section of the Capital Region’s business, civic and non-profit communities.
The members of the class include:
- Adam Beary – Bear Process Safety
- Allie Diefendorf – The Baton Rouge Youth Coalition
- Amanda Stout – McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC
- Anna Johnson – West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
- Anthony B. O’Connor – Cadence Insurance
- Beau Bourgeois – Kean Miller LLP
- Brandi Simmons – LSU Communication across the Curriculum
- Brian Cordasco – Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital
- Casey Meyer – Kuvare
- Chrisdelin Lyles – East Baton Rouge Parish School System
- Chynsia Robertson – b1BANK
- Dr. Allison Smith – Louisiana Board of Regents
- Ed Halphen – Woman’s Hospital
- Elizabeth Beckham – Turner Industries
- Elizabeth Liner – Baker Donelson
- Erica A. Johnson – Community Volunteer
- Gibbons Addison – Jones Walker
- Jaleesa Thompson, M.Ed. – Coach on the Geaux Consulting
- James Mack – Baton Rouge City-Parish Employees’ Retirement System
- Jesse Watson Ph.D. – Discovery Schools
- Jessica Guinn Johnson – E Pluribus Unum Institute
- Jonathan Grimes – Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
- Jordan Gleason – Cornerstone Government Affairs
- Kimberly Littlefield – Keyfinders Team Realty
- Lizzie Cossé – Watershed Advisors
- Luz Randolph, Ed.D. – City Year Baton Rouge
- Marie Mullen – Teach for America
- Mathilde Silverberg – The Louisiana Public Health Institute
- Morgan Almeida – Baton Rouge Area Chamber
- Niles Haymer – Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
- Paula-Marie Mensah – BASF Corporation
- Paxson Guest – Phelps Dunbar LLP
- Perryn Keys – The Advocate
- Rachel Carroccio – Emergent Method
- Shawn Zeringue – LWCC
- Sinella Aghasi, DMA – Kids’ Orchestra
- Taylor LeDuff – Adams and Reese LLP
- Terri Ricks – Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
- Trisha Guidry – Baton Rouge General Medical Center
- Viveca Johnson – Forward Moving Counseling and Consulting Services
- Wendy Daniels – Beechwood Residential
Original source can be found here.
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