Calcasieu Parish

Southwest Louisiana, Louisiana · 217K people · $18.2B GDP

Timeline
2026Present
NOW
EVENT HORIZON
2020202620302035204020452050
Acadiana RegionTrust Builder Community

Future Path

Pick a future path. Every number on this page updates with the impacts and the ranked actions for that path.

Disruption Profile

Baseline + Probable

Extreme — Median household income $55K (0% vs state median) -- near the state median.

High — Active disruption underway in key sectors

High — Building pressure in key sectors

Moderate — Building pressure in key sectors

Moderate — Building pressure in key sectors

Moderate — AI Exposure Index: 52/100 -- moderate vulnerability to AI-driven workforce disruption.

Moderate — Moderate exposure across select industries

Minimal — Limited disruption signal

Minimal — Limited disruption signal

Calcasieu Parish vs Louisiana Average

Calcasieu Parish exceeds Louisiana average on 7/9 dimensions. Highest divergence: Social Trust (-36)

Click a dimension label to explore

Calcasieu Louisiana US Avg

Projected impact · 2026

Stakes for Calcasieu Parish

Probable cone · 1.00x

With 95K jobs in Calcasieu Parish and AI exposure at 52/100, here is what the model projects through 2031 under the probable cone (default 5-year horizon — scrub the timeline to extend).

Model: at-risk = workforce × (AI exposure ÷ 100) × ((year − 2020) ÷ 10, capped 0-1) × cone multiplier. Each STEEPE-point improvement preserves ~1% of at-risk jobs. The same formula runs backwards (retrodiction) and forwards (projection), so scrubbing pre-2026 shows what the model says was already exposed by that year.

See per-dimension breakdown

How 14 actions distribute across 5 dimensions, plus near-term vs medium-term lists.

If Calcasieu Parish implements all 14 recommended actions, the model projects these dimensional improvements.

Education Value
37+23 pts
Close the Skills Gap with AI-Ready Credentials /Pre-emptive Reskilling Pipeline: Petrochemical plant operations /Sector-Aligned K-12 + Community College Pipeline /Registered Apprenticeship Expansion: Healthcare & Social /Sector-Pivot Scholarship Voucher
Economic Disruption
75+16 pts
Reduce Petrochemical/LNG Concentration Risk /Energy Transition Contingency Plan
AI > AGI > ASI
40+13 pts
Convert AI Vulnerability into First-Mover Advantage /Anchor Employer AI Co-Investment Compact /Universal Broadband for AI Economy Participation
Social Trust
45+9 pts
Targeted Poverty Reduction in Highest-Need Areas /Pre-Positioned Displaced Worker Rapid Response
Ecological Stress
88+9 pts
Climate Resilience Infrastructure Investment /Coastal Resilience as Economic Infrastructure
Near-term (1-3 yr)+61 pts

11 actions within local control

  • - Reduce Petrochemical/LNG Concentration Risk
  • - Close the Skills Gap with AI-Ready Credentials
  • - Convert AI Vulnerability into First-Mover Advantage
  • - Targeted Poverty Reduction in Highest-Need Areas
  • - Pre-emptive Reskilling Pipeline: Petrochemical plant operations
  • - Sector-Aligned K-12 + Community College Pipeline
  • - Anchor Employer AI Co-Investment Compact
  • - Registered Apprenticeship Expansion: Healthcare & Social
  • - Pre-Positioned Displaced Worker Rapid Response
  • - Energy Transition Contingency Plan
  • - Coastal Resilience as Economic Infrastructure
Medium-term (3-7 yr)+9 pts

3 actions requiring partnerships or advocacy

  • - Universal Broadband for AI Economy Participation
  • - Climate Resilience Infrastructure Investment
  • - Sector-Pivot Scholarship Voucher

Action Plan

Probable path

Top recommendations for Calcasieu Parish, ranked by estimated impact. 14 total · +70 pts combined.

Who Can Act

Of 14 recommended actions for Calcasieu Parish, 13 are within direct control. Tap a sphere to see the actions and what each one does.

Acting on the 13 local levers alone (+68 STEEPE pts) is the fastest path to shifting the probable→preferred future cone for this county.

Top Employers — Calcasieu Parish

The 8 largest employers shaping the local labor market. Tap any row for the public-data profile and AI-exposure assessment.

Economic Development Authority

SWLA Economic Development Alliance

Website

Target Sectors

LNG/EnergyAdvanced ManufacturingRare Earth ProcessingHealthcareSupply Chain

Active Programs

  • +LED FastStart
  • +ABC Pelican Training Center
  • +Healthworx (healthcare pipeline)
  • +Seed Center SWLA (incubator)
  • +SOWELA Technical CC
  • +11 certified industrial sites

Recent Wins

Woodside Energy Driftwood LNG $17.5B FID
$17.5B2025
Aclara Resources $277M rare earth facility
$277M2025
Energy Transfer Lake Charles LNG shelved early 2026
2026

Supporting detail

Open any section to dig into the underlying data.

Workforce transitions by sector

LA WARN notices grouped by industry

WARN Act notices in Calcasieu Parish. Identifies sectors with displaced talent pools available for recruitment and retention by economic development programs.

Total WARN Notices

0

Workers Affected

0

Top Sector

N/A

Recent Notices

Disruption scenarios

Exponential impact paths driven by the timeline

Exponential Impact Scenarios

Cross-signal alerts

When multiple risk signals converge on this parish

Convergence Alerts

highClimate-Economic Nexusstrength 100%
Ecological 88/55Economic 86/50

Ecological stress amplifies economic disruption through insurance costs, infrastructure damage, supply chain disruptions, and forced migration patterns.

Precedent: Hurricane Katrina (2005), Texas winter storm (2021): climate events created multi-year economic disruption in affected regions.

Calcasieu Parish: 2 dimensions converging above thresholds simultaneously.

Full economic profile

Demographics, employment, sectors, incentives

EVI: transitionalBASELINEMetro (RUCC 2)

Housing & Infrastructure

Median Home Value

$175K

Homeownership

66%

Median Rent

$900

Broadband Access

80.0%

Avg Commute

22 min

Labor Force Part.

61.0%

Housing market recovering from Hurricane Laura destruction. Insurance costs skyrocketing. New construction robust due to rebuilding and worker housing demand from industrial projects.

Employment by Sector

Petrochemical/LNG25%
Healthcare & Social14%
Construction12%
Retail Trade8%
Government7%

Population & Talent

Population

210K

Change Since 2020

-1.5%

Median Age

37

Population declined post-Hurricane Laura (2020) but stabilizing. Construction workforce influx (temporary) from LNG projects. Long-term retention uncertain as projects complete.

State Incentive Programs

Available incentives from LED for business attraction and expansion in Calcasieu Parish.

Quality Jobs Program

Rebate

Cash rebate on new payroll for qualifying companies creating well-paying jobs. Louisiana's flagship incentive providing a direct annual rebate of up to 6% of gross annual payroll for new direct jobs.

Max Benefit

Up to 6% annual cash rebate on new payroll for up to 10 years (5-year initial + 5-year renewal)

Eligibility

Companies creating 5+ new permanent jobs (small business) or 15+ new permanent jobs (standard) at or above 90% of parish average wage. Manufacturing, digital media, headquarters, and R&D qualify.

Enterprise Zone Program

Tax Credit

State income and franchise tax credits for job creation in designated enterprise zones. Provides $2,500 per new job created plus a sales/use tax rebate on materials and equipment.

Max Benefit

$2,500 income/franchise tax credit per net new job + 4% sales tax rebate on building materials, equipment, and machinery

Eligibility

Businesses creating permanent net new jobs in designated enterprise zone census tracts. Must hire at least 35% of new employees from the enterprise zone.

Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP)

Exemption

Property tax abatement on new manufacturing investment. Provides an 80% exemption on ad valorem property taxes for up to 10 years on qualifying capital investment in manufacturing facilities.

Max Benefit

80% property tax abatement for up to 10 years on qualifying manufacturing improvements and equipment

Eligibility

Manufacturing establishments. Requires local government (parish council/school board) approval. Must demonstrate job retention or creation and capital investment.

Digital Interactive Media and Software Development Incentive

Tax Credit

Refundable income tax credits for digital media and software development expenditures in Louisiana. Designed to attract tech companies, game studios, and software firms.

Max Benefit

25% tax credit on qualified production expenditures + 18% credit on Louisiana labor (software); credits are transferable and refundable

Eligibility

Companies producing digital interactive media products, video games, or developing commercial software in Louisiana. Minimum $50K spend for software; $300K for interactive media.

Technology Commercialization Credit

Tax Credit

Tax credits for businesses investing in the commercialization of Louisiana university research. Supports the translation of academic R&D into commercial products and services.

Max Benefit

40% tax credit on qualifying commercialization expenditures (up to $100K credit per project)

Eligibility

Louisiana companies commercializing technology developed at a Louisiana university or federal research lab. Must license or acquire IP from qualifying institution.

Competitive Projects Payroll Incentive

Rebate

Enhanced payroll rebate for large-scale competitive projects that Louisiana is pursuing against other states. Provides flexibility beyond standard Quality Jobs terms.

Max Benefit

Up to 15% rebate on new payroll for up to 15 years (negotiated based on project scale)

Eligibility

Large-scale projects with 50+ new direct jobs and $25M+ capital investment. Must demonstrate multi-state competitive consideration. Governor's discretionary approval.

Lake Charles LNG boom/bust. Massive capital investment ($100B+ announced LNG/petrochemical projects) created construction surge but long-term employment impact uncertain. Hurricane Laura (2020) devastation still being rebuilt. Extreme weather vulnerability combined with energy transition uncertainty creates volatility.

Sources

Census ACS 5-Year 2023: Calcasieu ParishBLS LAUS: Lake Charles MSASWLA Alliance (SW Louisiana Economic Development)

Grant matches

Federal funding aligned to parish levers

Best-Fit Incentive Programs

State programs matched to Calcasieu Parish's industry mix, workforce needs, and recommended actions.

Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP)
Exemption80% property tax abatement for up to 10 years on qualifying manufacturing improvements and equipment
45
  • +Matches manufacturing focus
  • +Funds 3 recommended actions

Recommended for: Convert AI Vulnerability into First-Mover Advantage, Anchor Employer AI Co-Investment Compact, Universal Broadband for AI Economy Participation

Quality Jobs Program
RebateUp to 6% annual cash rebate on new payroll for up to 10 years (5-year initial + 5-year renewal)
41
  • +Matches manufacturing focus
  • +Funds 2 recommended actions

Recommended for: Reduce Petrochemical/LNG Concentration Risk, Energy Transition Contingency Plan

Enterprise Zone Program
Tax Credit$2,500 income/franchise tax credit per net new job + 4% sales tax rebate on building materials, equipment, and machinery
30
  • +Funds 5 recommended actions

Recommended for: Reduce Petrochemical/LNG Concentration Risk, Convert AI Vulnerability into First-Mover Advantage, Anchor Employer AI Co-Investment Compact

Digital Interactive Media and Software Development Incentive
Tax Credit25% tax credit on qualified production expenditures + 18% credit on Louisiana labor (software); credits are transferable and refundable
30
  • +Funds 5 recommended actions

Recommended for: Reduce Petrochemical/LNG Concentration Risk, Convert AI Vulnerability into First-Mover Advantage, Anchor Employer AI Co-Investment Compact

Technology Commercialization Credit
Tax Credit40% tax credit on qualifying commercialization expenditures (up to $100K credit per project)
30
  • +Funds 5 recommended actions

Recommended for: Reduce Petrochemical/LNG Concentration Risk, Convert AI Vulnerability into First-Mover Advantage, Anchor Employer AI Co-Investment Compact

Target industries

Sectors prioritized by the parish strategy

Sectors aligned with the parish’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and AI impact assessment.

1.LNG Export & Gas Processing

AI mixed

Calcasieu Pass LNG (Venture Global), Cameron LNG (Sempra), Driftwood LNG (planned). $100B+ in announced capital investment. US LNG export capital.

2.Petrochemical Manufacturing

AI mixed

Sasol $12.5B ethane cracker, Citgo refinery, Westlake Chemical. Deep Gulf Coast chemical corridor extending from Houston.

3.Industrial Construction & Maintenance

AI headwind

Massive turnaround and construction workforce serving LNG/petrochem facilities. 10,000+ craft workers during peak construction.

4.Port & Logistics

AI tailwind

Port of Lake Charles ranks top 12 US in tonnage. Deepwater channel, rail connections, I-10/I-210 corridor. Chennault Airpark industrial campus.

Best-case opportunities

What this parish wins in the preferred future

Sources

Government, academic, and live data feeds

Census ACS 5-Year 2023: Calcasieu ParishBLS LAUS: Lake Charles MSASWLA Alliance (SW Louisiana Economic Development)Census QuickFacts: Calcasieu ParishBEA: Lake Charles MSA GDPSWLA Economic Development AlliancePort of Lake Charles
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