Labor supply and demand in the Capital Region Analyzed
Baton Rouge, La. (November 1, 2018) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today published its annual regional workforce report which provides insight on high-demand skilled occupations and associated training. The report collates a broad array of information from local education and training institutions, state governmental entities, and national databases to provide a full picture of the workforce pipeline for the nine-parish Capital Region. The report is attached and available online at brac.org/reports.
“It is crucial that the community take stock of what jobs are likely to be available and how many people are currently training for those positions. This report breaks down the Capital Region’s labor market into understandable pieces, and will hopefully influence decision-making of parents, students, educators and training providers,” said Stephen Toups, chair of BRAC’s Business Development Advisory Committee. “Workforce is one of the most challenging issues for businesses both regionally and nationwide and ensuring that our talent pipeline is robust and aligned with actual jobs is key.”
The report focuses on five industries projected to experience high growth in the coming year: construction, manufacturing, health care, professional and business services, and technology. In addition to providing data about industry and occupational growth, the report advises job seekers and students as to which high-growth, high-wage occupations are likely to present the best career opportunities, based in part on an expected insufficient number of people currently training for the positions.
Key takeaways from BRAC’s 2018 workforce report are:
- Technology job growth has fully rebounded from the Great Recession, with total job employment hitting a 10-year high;
- Manufacturing and construction jobs account for 20 percent of all jobs in the Capital Region’s labor market area;
- While Pipefitting and Machinists have the highest median wages among skilled craft occupations, they have some of the lowest rates of people completing training; and,
- Heavy and Tractor Trailer Truck Drivers and Registered Nurses are projected to have the highest number of openings in 2019 among all occupations.
The full report is available online at brac.org/reports.
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,500 small businesses, mid-sized firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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