The Greater New Orleans economy is anchored by five key sectors—Advanced Manufacturing, Digital Media, Energy, Healthcare, and Trade & Logistics—that together represent the foundation of regional employment, innovation, and global competitiveness. Over the past decade (2015–2025), these industries reflect a combination of stability, transformation, and emerging opportunity that is shaping the region’s long-term economic trajectory. 

First, the data shows a story of evolution—not decline. While some key sectors such as Energy and Advanced Manufacturing have experienced employment contraction in traditional segments, these shifts are largely driven by structural changes, including automation, productivity gains, and evolving global markets. At the same time, new growth areas have emerged within these industries, ranging from petrochemicals and industrial gases in Energy to advanced machinery and materials in Manufacturing, highlighting a transition toward more specialized, technology-enabled activity. 

Second, Healthcare continues to anchor the regional economy at scale and growth. With more than 86,000 jobs and growth of over 11,400 jobs (+15%) over the past decade, Healthcare is both the largest employer and one of the most consistent drivers of job creation in the region. Strong demand across hospitals, outpatient services, and specialty care underscores its role as both an economic engine and a critical workforce priority, while assets like the BioDistrict position the region for continued expansion in research and life sciences. 

Third, diversification is accelerating through Digital Media and innovation-driven sectors. Digital Media has grown by more than 1,300 jobs (+25%) since 2015, making it one of the fastest-growing clusters in the regional economy. Expansion in software publishing, data infrastructure, and digital services signals a shift toward a more technology-driven economy, supported by competitive state incentives and R&D tax credits. 

Fourth, Trade & Logistics and Advanced Manufacturing remain foundational—but are poised for reinvention. While both clusters have experienced modest or uneven growth over the past decade, they remain critical to the region’s economic base and are deeply interconnected with global trade and energy systems. The Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) represents a transformational investment that will expand trade capacity, strengthen supply chains, and create new opportunities across both sectors—benefits that are not yet reflected in current employment data. 

Finally, Energy remains a defining industry undergoing a major transition. Despite a decline of approximately 5,700 jobs (-27%) over the past decade, Energy continues to offer the highest wages and maintain a globally competitive position. The industry is evolving toward an “all-of-the-above” strategy that includes LNG, carbon capture, hydrogen, and renewables—positioning Louisiana and Greater New Orleans as leaders in the future of energy. 

Across all clusters, talent is the defining factor for long-term competitiveness. Sustained growth, transformation, and diversification will depend on the region’s ability to align workforce systems with industry needs, scale talent pipelines, and attract new workers. Together, these dynamics position Greater New Orleans as a region with a strong economic foundation and a clear path forward—one defined by global connectivity, industrial transformation, and innovation-led growth. 

Reindustrialized and Industrial Transformation

Data Snapshot (2015-2025)

• Total Jobs: 12,003
• 10-Year Growth: -568 (-4.5%)
• Avg Earnings: $107,731
• Demand: 303 postings/ month

Advanced Manufacturing remains a core component of the Greater New Orleans economy, linking the region’s industrial base to its energy assets, logistics network, and global trade activity. While employment has declined slightly over the past decade, these changes reflect broader structural shifts in traditional manufacturing segments rather than a loss of economic importance.

At the same time, the sector is evolving toward more advanced and specialized production. Growth in areas such as rubber products, aluminum processing, industrial machinery, HVAC systems, and precision instrumentation highlights a transition toward higher-value, technology-enabled manufacturing. The Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) represents a transformational opportunity to accelerate this shift by expanding trade capacity and improving supply chain efficiency. Combined with innovation platforms like Newlab, the region is well-positioned to compete in next-generation industrial sectors tied to clean energy, advanced materials, and reindustrialization.

Key Takeaways

• Slight long-term decline reflects structural shifts, not weakening importance
• Strong wage base and industrial capabilities
• Growth in advanced and specialized manufacturing segments
• Significant upside tied to LIT and energy-adjacent industries

A Global Leader in Transition

Data Snapshot (2015-2025)

• Total Jobs: 15,299
• 10-Year Growth: -5,669 (-27.0%)
• Avg Earnings: $198,712
• Demand: 186 postings/ month

Energy remains one of the defining industries of the Greater New Orleans region, anchored by a highly specialized workforce and the highest wages across all clusters. While employment has declined over the past decade, these changes reflect a structural shift within the industry rather than a loss of economic importance.

The sector is undergoing significant transformation. Traditional oil and gas segments have contracted, while areas such as natural gas, petrochemical manufacturing, industrial gases, and environmental services have expanded. Louisiana’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy—encompassing LNG, carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, renewables, and industrial decarbonization—positions the region as a global leader in the evolving energy landscape. This positioning has been reinforced through strong engagement at global forums such as CERAWeek, alongside continued leadership from Louisiana Economic Development and the Governor’s office. Innovation platforms like Newlab further support this transition by scaling technologies in carbon management, clean hydrogen, and resilient infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• Highest wages of all clusters (~$198K per job)
• Structural transition reshaping the industry
• Growth in LNG, petrochemicals, and decarbonization sectors
• Strong positioning in the global energy transition

The Region’s Largest Employer and Growth Engine

Data Snapshot (2015-2025)

• Total Jobs: 86,477
• 10-Year Growth: +11,412 (+15.2%)
• Avg Earnings: $85,287
• Demand: ~2,278 postings/month

Healthcare is the largest employment sector in the Greater New Orleans region and one of its most consistent engines of long-term job growth. Over the past decade, the industry has added more than 11,400 jobs, reflecting sustained demand for care services and continued expansion of major health systems.

The sector is also becoming more dynamic and diversified. Growth in outpatient care, mental health services, and specialty care reflects evolving healthcare delivery models, while hospitals remain the dominant employment base. Assets like the BioDistrict and partnerships with academic institutions position the region to expand into research, biotechnology, and innovation-driven healthcare services. As demand continues to grow, aligning workforce pipelines with industry needs will be critical to sustaining this momentum.

Key Takeaways

• Largest and fastest-growing major cluster
• Strong and sustained demand across subsectors
• Expansion into outpatient, specialty care, and innovation
• Major workforce development priority

A High-Growth Diversification Opportunity

Data Snapshot (2015-2025)

• Total Jobs: 6,602
• 10-Year Growth: +1,323 (+25.1%)
• Avg Earnings: $126,388
• Demand: 144 postings/ month

Digital Media is one of the region’s fastest growing and most promising diversification opportunities. Over the past decade, the sector has added more than 1,300 jobs, driven by expansion in software development, data infrastructure, and digital services.

The composition of the cluster is shifting away from traditional media toward a more technology-driven ecosystem. Growth in software publishing, computing infrastructure, and digital platforms reflects increasing demand for tech-enabled services. Louisiana Economic Development’s revamped Digital Interactive Media and Software Program—offering a 25% tax credit on in-state payroll and 18% on production expenditures, alongside the R&D Tax Credit—strengthens the region’s ability to attract and scale digital firms. Together, these dynamics position Greater New Orleans to expand its knowledge-based economy and compete for high-wage, technology-driven jobs.

Key Takeaways

• One of the fastest-growing clusters (+25%)
• Strong expansion in software, data, and digital services
• Supported by competitive state incentives
• Key driver of economic diversification

Backbone of Global Commerce

Data Snapshot (2015-2025)

• Total Jobs: 9,273
• 10-Year Growth: +237 (+2.6%)
• Avg Earnings: $82,353
• Demand: 105 postings/ month

Trade & Logistics remains a foundational industry in the Greater New Orleans economy, supporting the movement of goods through one of the nation’s most strategically located port systems. Over the past decade, the cluster has experienced modest growth, with gains in port, rail, and air logistics offsetting declines in some traditional transportation segments.

The long-term outlook for the industry is significantly stronger than current employment trends suggest. The Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) represents a generational investment that will expand global trade capacity, support thousands of jobs, and generate significant tax revenue. As this project comes online, it is expected to drive growth across logistics, manufacturing, and supply chain industries, reinforcing the region’s position as a global trade hub.

Key Takeaways

• Core industry supporting global commerce
• Stable long-term employment base
• Internal shifts across transportation modes
• Major future growth driven by LIT

A small number of industries provide the largest share of Top Jobs in the region. Government leads all sectors with more than 60,000 Top Jobs, followed by Health Care and Social Assistance with over 50,000. Together, these industries represent the largest sources of stable, high-volume employment.

Another tier of opportunity appears in Construction, Professional Services, Educational Services, and Manufacturing, each supporting more than 20,000 Top Jobs and reflecting demand for skilled trades, technical expertise, and specialized services. Transportation and Warehousing also contributes a significant share of Top Jobs, reinforcing the importance of logistics and supply chain activity.

Together, these industries form the backbone of high-quality employment in the regional economy.

Several industries stand out for the share of jobs that qualify as Top Jobs, indicating where high-quality employment is most embedded within industry structures.

Management of Companies and Enterprises and Utilities lead all sectors, with 84% of jobs meeting the Top Jobs benchmark. Construction follows closely, also exceeding 80%, reflecting the strong presence of skilled trades. A second tier of industries also shows a high concentration of quality roles. Finance and Insurance, Mining and Energy, Professional Services, Information, and Educational Services all have more than 70% of jobs classified as Top Jobs.

By contrast, industries such as Retail Trade (28%) and Accommodation and Food Services (10%) have far lower shares of Top Jobs, reflecting a higher concentration of entry-level and lower-wage roles.

Overall, Top Jobs are most heavily concentrated in professional, technical, financial, and skilled trade sectors, highlighting where the region’s strongest career opportunities are embedded.

While Greater New Orleans is a diverse region, the demographics of residents in Top Jobs do not fully reflect the population. Examining these roles highlights where access to high-quality employment is more equitable, and where gaps remain across industries.

Several industries diverge significantly from the region’s racial and ethnic composition. Mining and Energy, Utilities, Construction, and Professional and Financial Services stand out as among the least representative. In these sectors, White workers account for a larger share of Top Jobs than their share of the regional population, while Black and Hispanic residents are underrepresented relative to the region overall.

Gender disparities are also pronounced in several industries. Mining and Energy, Construction, Utilities, Manufacturing, and Transportation and Warehousing are heavily male dominated, with men holding a much larger share of Top Jobs than their share of the regional workforce. By contrast, Health Care and Social Assistance shows the opposite pattern, with women comprising the majority of Top Jobs.

Other industries more closely mirror the region’s demographics. Transportation and Warehousing, Administrative and Support Services, Retail Trade, Government, and Educational Services show stronger representation of Black workers, a more balanced racial and ethnic mix, and more balanced gender representation than many other sectors. As a result, workforce participation in these fields more closely reflects the communities that make up the regional economy.

More broadly, industries that most closely mirror the region’s demographics tend to be large public-sector or service-oriented fields, where hiring pipelines are broader, and workforce entry points are more accessible. In contrast, specialized professional, technical, and skilled trade industries – which often offer higher concentrations of Top Jobs – show greater divergence from the region’s population, highlighting opportunities to expand pathways into high-quality careers.

Access to Top Jobs by Age

Across all industries, workers in Top Jobs tend to skew older than the region’s population overall. Younger adults represent a meaningful share of the regional population, but a smaller portion of workers in Top Jobs, which are concentrated among mid- and late-career workers. This pattern suggests that many of the region’s highest-quality roles are typically reached later in a career pathway, after workers gain experience or specialized training.

Industries Facing the Greatest Retirement Pressure

Several industries have high shares of workers approaching retirement age, indicating potential workforce replacement needs in the coming years. Agriculture, Real Estate, Wholesale Trade, Finance and Insurance, and Mining and Energy have some of the oldest Top Job workforces, with roughly 30% or more of workers age 60 and older in several of these sectors.

A number of other industries – including Professional Services, Management of Companies, Manufacturing, and Administrative Services – also have relatively high shares of workers nearing retirement compared to the regional average.

Preparing the Next Generation of Talent

Taken together, these patterns highlight where future talent pipeline pressure may be greatest. Industries with older workforces may face increased retirement turnover in the coming decade, reinforcing the need to attract and prepare younger workers to move into these high-quality roles as experienced workers exit the labor force.