The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in New Orleans are the surest bets for employment.
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#19. Management of companies and enterprises
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 620 (0.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +302.6%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
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#18. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 6,059 (1.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -36.8%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
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#17. Utilities
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 6,536 (1.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +24.5%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
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#16. Information
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 7,725 (1.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +3.6%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
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#15. Real estate and rental and leasing
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 12,687 (2.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +11.9%
National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide
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#14. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 16,414 (2.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +7.6%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
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#13. Finance and insurance
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 17,610 (2.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -18.0%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
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#12. Wholesale trade
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 18,479 (3.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +15.7%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
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#11. Administrative and support and waste management services
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 28,180 (4.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +45.0%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
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#10. Public administration
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 28,644 (4.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -8.5%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
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#9. Other services, except public administration
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 29,417 (4.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +7.1%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
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#8. Transportation and warehousing
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 31,866 (5.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +21.1%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
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#7. Manufacturing
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 32,230 (5.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -8.2%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
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#6. Professional, scientific, and technical services
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 42,996 (7.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +30.1%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
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#5. Construction
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 49,557 (8.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +7.0%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
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#4. Accommodation and food services
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 62,182 (10.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +24.6%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
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#3. Retail trade
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 63,767 (10.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +14.9%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
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#2. Educational services
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 63,881 (10.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.9%
National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide
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#1. Health care and social assistance
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
- Employed: 83,881 (13.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +16.5%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
