Six concurrent megaprojects are set to fuel a significant wave of industrial construction across Louisiana, with labor demand peaking at about 20,500 workers in late 2026 and early 2027, according to a recent analysis by Leaders for a Better Louisiana.
The six projects analyzed in the report are:
- Meta’s AI data center in Richland Parish
- Entergy’s power center supporting Meta’s data center
- Woodside LNG in Calcasieu Parish near Lake Charles
- Venture Global CP2 LNG in Cameron near Lake Charles
- CF Industries in Ascension Parish
- Hyundai Steel in Ascension Parish
Regional impacts will vary but will be significant statewide. At its peak in late 2026, about 24% of Louisiana’s industrial construction labor force will be tied to the six projects alone.
The Monroe-area industrial construction workforce could peak at nearly four times its current size, while demand in Lake Charles could more than double. Baton Rouge, already home to a large industrial labor pool, will also experience steady growth.
Leaders for a Better Louisiana notes that prior construction upswings have coincided with population gains and tighter coordination among training providers. The state added nearly 30,000 industrial construction jobs from 2012 to 2018 and Louisiana’s population grew by more than 62,000 in that span.
The report also highlights a more extensive talent pipeline. LSU has expanded its construction management program, more than doubling the number of annual graduates since 2014, while the Louisiana Community and Technical College System has also scaled its construction training pipelines.
