Louisiana State Profile

Homeowners benefit from the lowest property tax costs in the nation; Louisiana faces a shortage of skilled workers as college grads seek jobs in other states; the state improves its business climate but continues to rank among lowest in US.

• State job growth fell 1.7% in August 2009 from a year ago; national job growth fell 4.4%.
• State unemployment averaged 7.8% in August 2009; the national average was 9.7%
• Personal income fell 1.8% to $159 billion in Q2 2009 from a year ago.
• Tax revenue fell 18.0% in Q2 2009 from the previous year.
• Exports fell 31.1% to $9.4 billion in the first seven months of 2009 from a year ago.
• Venture capital investment in LA fell 91% to $850,000 in Q2 2009 from a year ago.