ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC) is focused on strengthening workforce development by addressing labor force participation, out-commuting trends, the impacts of an aging population on economic sustainability and location quotient measures. This report analyzes workforce data from various sources, including line graphs, bar diagrams, tables, and pie charts. The key areas of focus are labor force participation rates, old-age dependency ratios, geographic workforce distribution across the region and the industry and jobs concentration in the region.

Workforce Characteristics

The first bar chart breaks down the population into three main categories: those not in the labor force, those in the labor force, and the unemployed civilian labor force.

Key Findings:

  • Population Not in Labor Force: The Central Region Planning Commission (CRPC) region has 313,696 individuals not engaged in the labor force. This significant proportion of non-participation reflects various challenges, including high poverty rates, limited job opportunities, and an aging population that may be out of the workforce. High non-participation is concerning as it constrains local economic productivity and reduces the pool of active workers needed to drive regional growth.
  • Total Population in Labor Force: The Central Region Planning Commission (CRPC) region has a total of 502,706 individuals in the labor force, indicating a strong potential for economic activity and growth. This high participation shows that there is a substantial number of people available and willing to work, supporting local industries and economic productivity.
  • Unemployed Civilian Labor Force: In the CRPC region, 32,731 individuals are part of the unemployed civilian labor force. This figure reflects a segment of the population actively seeking work but currently unemployed, which points to economic challenges such as job scarcity or a mismatch between available jobs and workers’ skills. High unemployment can strain local resources and reduce household income levels, impacting consumer spending and slowing down economic momentum.

Labor Force Participation Rate 

The second bar chart compares labor force participation rates across parishes with state and national averages.

Key Findings

  • High Labor Force Participation: Ascension Parish (81%) and West Baton Rouge (75%) have higher participation rates than the state average of 72%, reflecting strong workforce engagement and availability of jobs within these parishes.
  • Low Labor Force Participation: East Feliciana (52%) has one of the lowest participation rates, which may be due to aging demographics and limited employment opportunities, especially in rural areas. Focused initiatives to improve workforce development and job creation are essential here.

Where Residents Work

The first table provides data on where residents work, showing significant commuting trends.

Ascension
East Baton Rouge
East Feliciana
Iberville
Livingston
Pointe Coupee
St. Helena
Tangipahoa
Washington
West Baton Rouge
West Feliciana
Worked in County of Residence
50.9%
85.3%
39.0%
53.0%
46.2%
43.4%
27.4%
63.7%
67.6%
35.8%
47.8%
Worked Outside County of Residence
48.6%
13.7%
59.2%
46.3%
51.6%
54.7%
70.6%
32.0%
27.8%
63.8%
51.3%
Worked in State of Residence
99.6%
99.0%
98.2%
99.3%
97.7%
98.1%
97.9%
95.7%
95.4%
99.7%
99.0%
Worked Outside State of Residence
0.4%
1.0%
1.8%
0.7%
2.3%
1.9%
2.1%
4.3%
4.6%
0.3%
1.0%

Key Findings

  • High Out-Commuting: St. Helena (70.6%) and West Baton Rouge (63.8%) have high percentages of residents commuting outside their county for work. This suggests a shortage of local employment opportunities, forcing workers to seek jobs in neighboring parishes, which can strain transportation infrastructure and reduce local economic activity.
  • Low Out-Commuting: East Baton Rouge (13.7%) has a relatively low out-commuting rate, indicating that most residents are employed locally, benefiting from urban economic activity and infrastructure.

 

The third bar chart visualizes the percentage of residents working in their county of residence.

Key findings

  • High Local Employment: East Baton Rouge (85%) and Tangipahoa (63.7%) demonstrate higher rates of residents working locally, reflecting the availability of jobs and stronger local economies.
  • Low Local Employment: St. Helena (27.4%) and West Baton Rouge (35.8%) struggle with retaining their workforce locally, reflecting the need for job creation and economic development initiatives in these parishes.

Elderly Population

The fourth bar chart shows the percentage of the population aged 60 and over, highlighting aging trends.

Key findings

  • High Proportion of Elderly: Pointe Coupee (29%) and St. Helena (26%) have the highest percentages of older residents, which could strain healthcare systems and reduce labor force participation. These parishes may require targeted workforce strategies focusing on healthcare services and retirement planning.
  • Moderate Elderly Population: Ascension and Livingston have lower percentages, at 20%, signaling a younger, more economically active population.

    The fifth bar chart shows the old-age dependency ratio, which measures the number of elderly relative to the working-age population.

    • Key Findings

      • High Dependency: Pointe Coupee (37.1) and St. Helena (34.4) have the highest old-age dependency ratios, meaning there are more elderly residents dependent on a smaller working-age population. This creates economic pressure, requiring workforce strategies to support both the elderly and the shrinking labor pool.

      Lower Dependency: Ascension (22.2) and Livingston (22.7) fare better, with a lower burden on their working-age population.

    Commute Trends 

    The first line chart tracks commute times across the parishes.

      Key findings

      • Long Commutes: West Baton Rouge and Livingston report some of the longest commute times, over 30 minutes, which can negatively affect work-life balance, productivity, and job satisfaction. This indicates a need for better local job creation or improved transportation infrastructure.
      • Shorter Commutes: East Baton Rouge and Ascension enjoy shorter commute times, which can be linked to a higher percentage of local employment and better transportation infrastructure.

       

      The pie charts compare the number of vehicles per household in the Baton Rouge and Hammond Metropolitan areas.

      Key Findings

      • Impact on Public Transportation: The high number of households with two or more vehicles in both areas suggests that public transportation may not be widely used or accessible. Improving public transportation options could help reduce traffic congestion, support low-income households, and reduce commuting costs.

      Occupations

      The second line chart shows employment trends in the Computer, Engineering, and Science fields from 2018 to 2022.

      Key Findings

        • CRPC Region: The Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC) region shows steady employment percentages in these fields, generally higher than Louisiana State, but lower than the U.S. average. This indicates a moderate presence of STEM occupations within the region, suggesting room for growth to reach national levels.
        • Parish-Level Trends:
          • St. Helena Parish: Displays some fluctuations, particularly a notable drop in 2022, suggesting possible economic or structural shifts that impacted STEM employment locally.
          • Washington Parish: Generally, maintains a low percentage in STEM fields across the years, with slight variability, underscoring a lower concentration of high-skilled STEM jobs in this parish compared to the CRPC region and national averages.

      Industries 

      The second table presents the location quotient for establishments across industries in each parish.

        Key Findings

        • Construction and Manufacturing: Parishes like Ascension and Iberville have high location quotients in construction and manufacturing, signaling regional specialization. These parishes may benefit from focused workforce development in construction and manufacturing to sustain this competitive advantage.
        • Healthcare and Social Assistance: Tangipahoa and St. Helena have higher location quotients for healthcare. Given the aging population in these areas, there is a need to increase workforce training in healthcare services to meet the rising demand.

        The third table displays the location quotient for employment across industries.

        Key Findings

        • Transportation and Warehousing: West Baton Rouge and Iberville excel in transportation and warehousing, with high employment location quotients. Workforce development in logistics and transportation could further strengthen these industries and provide job opportunities.
        • Retail Trade: Washington Parish and Pointe Coupee show high employment in retail trade, indicating that retail is a major source of jobs. However, diversification of employment opportunities may be necessary to reduce reliance on retail, which can be vulnerable to economic downturns.

         

        Summary

        The CRPC region faces several workforce development challenges, including low labor force participation in rural parishes, high out-commuting rates, and the economic strain of an aging population. By investing in local job creation, improving public transportation, and focusing on high-demand industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and STEM fields, CRPC can improve workforce resilience and economic stability across its parishes.