Workforce Development 

Trained, skilled workers are a valuable commodity in today’s highly competitive global market. An availability of employees who possess the necessary skills and knowledge gives businesses that extra edge.

To assure new and expanding businesses they will have access to a pool of workers with the education and expertise necessary for their operations, area schools work closely with local businesses to ensure graduates have the essential aptitudes that are utilized in today’s workplace. Additionally, if new or prospective employees need training, the Dept. of Economic Development & Tourism collaborates with various state agencies to establish customized workforce instruction to satisfy a business employment needs.

 

FastStart

FastStart provides customized employee recruitment, screening, training development and training delivery for eligible, new or expanding companies – all at no cost.  Based on a company 's immediate and long-term workforce needs, the FastStart team crafts unique programs that ensure high-quality, flexible workers are prepared on day one and beyond.

The FastStart team includes dozens of experienced professionals from a range of businesses, including manufacturing, digital media, customer support centers and research and development. FastStart has designed and delivered comprehensive workforce solutions for a wide variety of Fortune 500 companies as well as high-tech companies funded by leading venture capital firms.

Louisiana Economic Development Corporation Workforce Development and Training Program

The purpose of this program is to develop and provide customized workforce training to existing and prospective Louisiana businesses. Unlike most other public training programs, LEDC’s program is designed to meet the diverse training needs of Louisiana businesses. The program is committed to the creation and upgrading or retention of specific jobs. Applicants can be individual companies or a consortium of companies operating in a related industry or field. Funding awards will be paid to recipient companies as a reimbursement of eligible training expenses. The types of training eligible for funding are pre-employment training, on-the-job training and workplace-based retraining.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

More WIA funding per capita is made available to Louisiana than to any other state. On-the-job-training helps employers cut training costs in half by providing a 50 percent reimbursement of salary for training for up to six months.

 

Job Service

A federally funded program maintained by the Louisiana Department of Employment and Training, Job Service files contain the largest supply of qualified job seekers in the state. Job listings which cannot be filled on a local basis are fed into a computerized system which brings the job order to placement interviewers in offices across the state.

Employers may also use the facilities of any of the Job Service offices statewide to carry out their own prospective employee search. An employer may advertise a job opening in any area of the state and have a representative conduct interviews in Job Service offices where qualified applicants are available.

 

Major Employer WAGES in St. Charles Parish
Year	Wage
2ND QUARTER 2025	$1,604.00
2024	$1,780.00
2023	$1,776.00
2022	$1,571.00
2021	$1,549.00
2020	$1,417.00
2019	$1,373.00
2018	$1,351.00
2017	$1,317.00
2016	$1,266.00
2015	$1,265.00
2014	$1,239.00
2013	$1,205.00
2012	$1,195.00
2011	$1,127.00
2010	$1,095.00
Source: LA Workforce Commission

Unemployment / Labor Force
	2021	2022	2023	2024	YTD 2025
Average Annual Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.2%	3.1%	3.7%	3.5%
Average Annual Labor Force	24,373	24,949	24,931	24,482	22,947
December 2025 Unemployment Rate: 3.5% (Not Seasonally Adjusted/Preliminary)

2nd Quarter 2025 - Units, Average Wage & Employment by Industry Sector
Industry	Total Units	Employment	Weekly Wage
St. Charles Parish	1,464	23,061	1,604
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	3	7	881
Mining	8	45	1,686
Utilities	16	882	2,662
Construction	172	2,760	1,354
Manufacturing	68	4,551	2,676
Wholesale trade	121	1,877	1,695
Retail trade	148	1,419	632
Transportation and warehousing	113	2,478	1,745
Information	16	125	882
Finance and insurance	78	325	1,275
Real estate, rental and leasing	51	333	1,557
Professional and technical services	156	865	1,870
Management of companies and enterprises	16	340	785
Administrative and waste services	105	961	1,288
Educational services	15	*	*
Health care and social assistance	121	1,480	1,005
Arts, entertainment and recreation	25	224	376
Accommodation and food services	120	1,033	369
Other services except public administration	75	527	1,482
Public administration	37	753	1,482
Source: Louisiana Works / Department of Labor *DATA NON-PUBLISHABLE

Major Employers in St. Charles Parish
Business / Industry	Approximate # of Employees	Product/Service	Town
St. Charles Parish Public Schools	1,723	Education	Luling
Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex	1,200	Petrochemical facility	Norco
Dow St. Charles	912	Chemicals and plastics	Taft
Entergy, Waterford 3	713	Electricity provider	Killona
Bayer	650	Chemical manufacturer	Luling
Valero St. Charles	549	Oil refinery	Norco
St. Charles Parish Government	630	Government	Hahnville
St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office	381	Law enforcement	Luling
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits	328	Liquor distribution	St. Rose
St. Charles Parish Hospital	437	Medical facility	Luling
Winn-Dixie (Luling 95, Destrehan 180)	275	Retail	Luling/Destrehan
Randa	160	Men's accessories	St. Rose
Occidental Chemical Corporation	196	Chemical manufacturer	Luling/Destrehan
Walmart	155	Retail	Boutte
International Matex Tank Terminals	165	Bulk liquid handling	St. Rose
Bunge North America	175	Grain export and soy bean processing	Destrehan
ADM		Grain export and soy bean processing	Ama/Destrehan
**All information, although deemed reliable, is subject to errors and omissions.**