The state struggled with growth for much of the year.
NFIB’s monthly Small Business Optimism Index remained flat at 96.1 in September and October—and Louisiana business owners understand why.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported by Forbes, the Pelican State ranked in the bottom 10 in the nation for job growth in 2015, with less than 1 percent growth in the first three quarters. Louisiana is joined by Alaska, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Wyoming. NFIB Louisiana is worked diligently to support pro-business candidates during the 2015 election cycle. While we were successful in helping elect a friendly legislature, there will be challenges ahead with the new governor who is already proposing an increase in the minimum wage. NFIB members are encouraged to contact their legislators to let them know that policies such as this are detrimental to the growth of small business.
Meanwhile, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah and Washington ranked as the top 10 states, with non-agricultural job growth rates ranging from 2.7 percent to 4.1 percent.