Skilled Trades & Maintenance
- 864 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- 764 electricians
- 589 industrial machinery mechanics
- 118 machinery maintenance workers
Shreveport-Bossier offers a deep laborshed, proven industrial talent, military-trained skill sets, and education partners that help employers hire, train, and grow.
As Louisiana's third-largest metropolitan area and a regional hub for Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport-Bossier gives companies access to workers across production, logistics, healthcare, aviation, engineering, IT, office, and skilled trade roles.
With a civilian labor force of 171,800, 164,200 employed workers, a 95.5% employment rate, and manufacturing employment growing at +4.2% year-over-year, the region's labor market is active and expanding. Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics & Current Employment Statistics, February 2026 (preliminary).
171,800
Civilian Labor Force
164,200
Total Employed
95.5%
Employment Rate
170,200
Total Nonfarm Jobs
Manufacturing Momentum
With 10,000+ manufacturing workers and strong sector growth, Shreveport-Bossier signals real industrial operating capacity. This growth is supported by existing employers in steel, glass, paper, petroleum refining, and advanced manufacturing.
10,000+
Manufacturing Workers
Current nonfarm employment by industry sector, February 2026. All 11 BLS CES supersectors are shown; figures sum to 170,200 total nonfarm jobs. Source: BLS Current Employment Statistics, February 2026 (preliminary).
| Industry Sector | Jobs | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Education & Health Services | 34,200 | ▲ +3.3% |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities | 34,000 | ▼ -2.0% |
| Government | 27,500 | ▼ -2.8% |
| Leisure & Hospitality | 19,700 | ▼ -2.0% |
| Professional & Business Services | 16,000 | ▼ -4.2% |
| Manufacturing | 10,000 | ▲ +4.2% 🔥 |
| Construction | 9,300 | ▲ +2.2% |
| Other Services | 6,700 | ▲ +1.5% |
| Financial Activities | 6,900 | ▲ +1.5% |
| Mining & Logging | 4,300 | ▼ -2.3% |
| Information | 1,600 | — 0.0% |
| Total Nonfarm | 170,200 | ▼ -0.5% |
Selected occupations organized into employer-focused groups. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024.
A concise table for site selectors and employers who want the supporting detail. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024.
Military-coded occupations (OEWS SOC 55-0000; excludes civilian contractor and base support roles)
3,371
Machinists
439
Glass and glassware manufacturing
471
Network and computer systems administrators
179
Civil engineers
131
Gas plant operators
113
Higher education, community college programs, technical training, and employer partnerships help companies recruit and upskill locally.
Regional universities and colleges support business, healthcare, technology, engineering, and leadership talent pipelines. Over 20,000 college students are enrolled in the region.
20,000+
College students enrolled regionally
Community and technical college programs help train welders, electricians, maintenance technicians, HVAC workers, and advanced manufacturing talent.
Trades
Training for hands-on roles
Barksdale Air Force Base adds a distinctive talent advantage. With 25,754 veterans in the MSA — 6.7% of MSA population and above the national average — the region offers a continuous pipeline of mission-ready technical skill sets in aviation, logistics, cybersecurity, maintenance, and operations.
25,754
Veterans in the MSA — 6.7% of population
A strong workforce means companies can hire, train, operate, and scale in the region. The data backs it up.
164,200 employed workers across production, maintenance, logistics, aviation, healthcare, IT, and professional services.
Education and workforce partners can help employers align programs with hiring needs — from technical trades to professional roles.
Manufacturing growing at +4.2% YoY and construction up +2.2% YoY — the region supports relocations, expansions, and long-term operations.
Shreveport Next can help employers understand the laborshed, connect with training partners, and evaluate workforce needs by role, site, and industry.
Call Us
318-716-4112
Email Us
beau.giles@shreveportnext.com
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