Louisiana workforce facing a critical shortage, state leaders say the solution starts at home

WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Louisiana is facing a workforce paradox: more jobs than people to fill them. With 114,000 job openings and only 90,000 unemployed residents, state officials say the math doesn’t add up — and the consequences are growing.

On Oct. 28, state and regional leaders gathered at the West Monroe Convention Center for a luncheon hosted by Louisiana Works, formerly known as the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The event followed a morning breakfast in Rayville, where rural workforce concerns took center stage. In West Monroe, the conversation shifted toward urban development, tech growth, and statewide strategy.

Susie Schowen, Secretary of Louisiana Works, says the agency’s mission is evolving — not just to connect people with jobs, but to build coalitions that understand and respond to local needs.

“We’re never going to do the right thing if we don’t work with the employers to understand what they actually need and when,” Schowen said. “And then we want to make sure that people in the community are aware of what those opportunities are and that we’re able to get them into the programs that are going to get them skilled for those jobs.”

According to the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, only 58% of Louisiana adults are actively participating in the workforce. That leaves 42% — including retirees, the disabled, and others — outside the labor pool. Schowen says the state must do more than train new workers; it must also bring back those who left.

“We need people who already have those skills and particularly people maybe who left Louisiana to get jobs elsewhere,” she said. “We really encourage them to look at coming back home.”

The agency is working with Louisiana Economic Development to promote the state’s job market and quality of life, especially as major projects like Meta begin to take shape.

“We’ve got some really great partnerships happening… so that we can jointly reach out and tell the story of the amazing things happening in Louisiana and how people can be part of them,” Schowen added.

The rebranding from Louisiana Workforce Commission to Louisiana Works took effect October 1, aiming to reduce confusion with other state agencies and better reflect its mission.

As the luncheon wrapped up, one question remained at the heart of the discussion: How can Louisiana close its workforce gap?

You can visit the Louisiana Works page to find out more and to see prospective job opportunities.