The extraction industry also will spin off jobs in the truck and water transportation sectors, which should add 4,200 positions. Construction will fight through higher interest rates to continue its upward trend in job growth with 6,500 new positions. Employment will increase by 14,900, including an expansion of its call-center base and construction jobs generated from several chemical plant expansions and retrofitting of the nation s largest refinery. Large employers like Lockheed Martin and Litton-Avondale plan no new hiring, and uncertainty surrounding two large employers, Harrah s casino and Jazzland amusement park, further cloud the region. About 3,400 jobs should be created in Monroe in next two years.
Environmental issues surrounding the chemical industry in Lake Charles continue to slow expansion.
Somewhat ironically, however, several area refineries will have to spend heavily, especially in 2002, to comply with the Clean Air Act. The area s ability to attract communications companies will contribute to a forecast job increase of 3,500. Driven by new, labor-intensive distribution centers and expanding call centers, Lafayette will add 7,900 new jobs. The recovery in the extraction industry should help produce 4,200 jobs and lift Houma from nearly the bottom of state rankings into second place in terms of percentage job growth. With two offices under construction in Hammond, La., and New Orleans, the company will have 255 banking locations in 34 Louisiana parishes and 15 Texas counties.