LOUISIANA JOBS: The latest state employment figures are out and while Louisiana's jobless rate could be worse, compared with the national average--- the news isn't great. Louisiana’s unemployment rate is 5.7%, compared to the national average of 4.3%. But Louisiana has attracted businesses through various tax incentives. One of the current projects is the $14-billion Sasol expansion in Westlake, with construction presently 55% complete. State officials say this project has generated 10,000 direct and indirect jobs but according to news reports... many of the construction jobs have gone to workers imported from other states like nearby Texas and with local housing shortages such employment has resulted in "temporary worker's villages", commonly known as Man-Camps housing up to 4.000 workers in one location. So job numbers can mean different things as imported workers usually don't become Louisiana citizens and permanent local taxpayers. But the hope is once the plants are complete, long-term economic growth will result from permanent in-state plant workers.
