Louisiana Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Louisiana account for 19.52% of the total output in the state, employing 6.81% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $49.22 billion in 2018. In addition, there were an average of 135,000 manufacturing employees in Louisiana in 2018, with an average annual compensation of $89,313.18 in 2017.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2018)
$49.22
(Percent share of total gross state product)
19.52%
Manufacturing Firms in Louisiana (2016)
2,893

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2018)
135,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
6.81%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2017)
$89,313.18
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2017)
$42,182.00

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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Louisiana Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Louisiana’s economy, with $40.82 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2018. That same year, $18.51 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 21.50% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 85.00% percent of all exporters in Louisiana.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2018)
$40.82
(Percent share of total goods exports)
61.62%
Growth in Manufactured Goods Exports (2010–2018)
64.57%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
115,099
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
21.50%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
85.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2018)
$18.51
(Percent of total exports, 2018)
27.95%
Total Manufactured Goods Exports to Canada and Mexico (NAFTA, 2018)
$9.54
Top Five Export Markets (Percent of total manufactured goods exports, 2018)
23.38%
Mexico
16.80%
Brazil
8.28%
Canada
6.58%
Netherlands
4.94%
Singapore
3.93%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased nearly 49 percent ($679.46 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2018 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.