Gov. Jindal: U.S. Census Reports LA Now At FOUR Consecutive Years of Population In-Migration - Nearly 20-fold Increase Over 2009

Press Release

With the release of its American Community Survey (ACS) results for 2010 today, the U.S. Census reported that Louisiana recently experienced its fourth consecutive year in a row of net population in-migration (more people moving into Louisiana than moving out of Louisiana). These results follow a period of more than 20 consecutive years in which more people left Louisiana than moved in every year. Additionally, the latest data from the Census indicates that Louisiana's population in-migration significantly increased in 2010 versus 2009.

According to the ACS results from the U.S. Census, Louisiana experienced net population in-migration of approximately 9,758 people in 2010, which represented a nearly twenty-fold increase compared to the total in 2009 of 497. The results are consistent with Louisiana's recent economic performance, which has significantly exceeded that of the South and the U.S. since early 2008.

Governor Bobby Jindal said, "After more than two decades of more people moving out of Louisiana than moving into the state, we now have four consecutive years of more people moving into Louisiana than moving out. This is a huge turnaround and we're reversing Louisiana's old problem of out-migration.

"The most common reason people move is to find a good job opportunity, and these data confirm that our economy continues to outperform the South and the U.S. Our unemployment rate has remained well below the Southern and national averages every single month we have been in office. We now have the second best total employment performance in the South since 2008. We've had 11 months in a row of private sector job growth. Southern Business & Development has named Louisiana the State of the Year for three years in a row.

"The statistics go on and on, but the bottom line is that four years in a row of positive in-migration numbers is not happening by coincidence. Our sons and daughters are beginning to move back to our state, and more people are moving here because they can find good job opportunities in our state.

"Of the more than 45,000 jobs that will be created through our economic development wins, we have attracted major new investments or expansions of leading companies, including Electronic Arts, CenturyLink, Albemarle, Gameloft, and Globalstar that are diversifying our economy and putting Louisiana in competition with professional job hubs like Houston, Atlanta and Dallas.

"We've made tremendous strides over the last four years, but we've still got more work to do. Four years in a row of more people moving in than moving out means we're turning Louisiana around, but we will not rest until all of our sons and daughters can pursue their dreams right here at home."

Louisiana Economy Continues to Grow
* Louisiana had the second highest job growth nationally, both on an absolute and percentage basis, in the information sector from June 2009 to August 2011. (LED analysis -- Sept 2011)
* In 2011, for the THIRD consecutive year, Southern Business & Development named Louisiana "State of the Year," for attracting business investment and job-creating projects.
* The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that Louisiana ranked fifth in the nation for growth in goods and services produced in 2009.
* Site Selection magazine announced that Louisiana's national economic development projects ranked the state third best in the U.S.
* Pollina Corporate Real Estate gave Louisiana its first-ever "Most Improved State" designation based on its improved ranking from 2008 to 2010.
* Gallup's Job Creation Index for 2009 ranked Louisiana third best among all 50 states and DC.
* Portfolio.com said Louisiana fared second best among all 50 states and DC in the recession.

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