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Jefferson Parish Leads Nation in Job Growth

For the quarter ending September 30, 2006, Jefferson Parish had the highest annual percentage increase in employment among the largest parishes/counties in the U.S., according to data just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) noted that the data shows Jefferson Parish experienced a year-to-date (September 2005 to September 2006) employment gain of 22.4 percent, compared with national job growth of 1.5 percent.

“Despite the national perception that the Greater New Orleans area is still ‚Äòstuck on stuck,’ these figures prove that Jefferson Parish is booming and is not only recovered but is growing at rates that are stronger compared to our pre-Katrina economy. These figures show that Jefferson is not only back, but we are stronger and better than ever,” said Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard.

Jefferson, now the largest parish in the state of Louisiana, has been this region’s economic recovery center since Katrina. Between September 1, 2005 and January 31, 2007, Jefferson Parish has added 3,414 net new businesses, some of which are associated with the recovery and rebuilding of the Metro New Orleans region. JEDCO was the first to open two Business Recovery Centers, in conjunction with Louisiana Economic Development, servicing about 16,000 businesses.

“JEDCO statistics demonstrate that companies are taking advantage of incentives from the Gulf Opportunity Zone as well as state incentives to expand existing operations or to establish new facilities, saving companies millions of dollars,” said JEDCO Executive Director Lucien Gunter. “In 2006, JEDCO worked with more than 200 companies utilizing these incentives which will result in the creation of an estimated 10,000 new jobs within two years and generating almost $400 million in private investments in the parish. This new data is an indication that Jefferson Parish is not just moving forward – but that we are moving beyond Hurricane Katrina.”

Employment gains in Jefferson Parish reflect significant recovery from substantial job losses that occurred in September 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina.