According to the US Census Bureau, Louisiana is among nine states that have seen a loss of population, with a decrease of nearly 11,000 in the time between July 2017 and July 2018. Demographer Greg Rigamer said it’s not a good sign and a reflection upon the state’s economy.
“Money attracts people. Jobs create money. We just don’t have the high paying jobs throughout the state that many other communities and states have,” said Rigamer.
Since 2010, Louisiana’s population has only increased by 115,000, compared to Texas who has seen an increase of 3.5 million and Florida with 2.5 million. Rigamer says although those are larger states, the rate of growth is multiple of that seen in the Bayou State.
“In this period that we are talking about here, 2010 through 2018, southern states populations has increased by 8.6 percent, compared to Louisiana at 2.5 percent,” said Rigamer.
Rigamer believes people leave in pursuit of other stronger and more viable opportunities in employment for educated individuals.
“If you have the opportunity to pursue better-paying jobs and things like that, you take it. If you really don’t have an opportunity for a better paying job, you stay put. It’s not a good trend,” said Rigamer.
