Louisiana Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Louisiana account for 20.01% of the total output in the state, employing 6.85% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $51.40 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 130,000 manufacturing employees in Louisiana in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $94,513.70 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$51.40
(Percent share of total gross state product)
20.01%
Manufacturing Firms in Louisiana (2017)
2,854

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
130,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
6.85%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$94,513.70
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$43,954.89

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 $28.53 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $13.54 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, 2020)
$28.53
(Percent share of total goods exports)
47.86%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
115,099
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
21.50%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
85.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$13.54
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
47.46%
Mexico
13.53%
Brazil
9.01%
Canada
7.28%
Netherlands
4.60%
South Korea
3.91%

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

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 48.3% ($659.49 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2019 – 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.