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The 10 Least Productive Places in Louisiana
In any workplace, encountering a colleague who seems to coast along while others put in the effort can be frustrating. This article explores Louisiana towns where productivity levels might raise some eyebrows.
We’re not here to offend; rather, we aim to shed light on how certain local cultures can affect workplace dynamics. Living in these towns might make you reflect on work ethic in your community.
To determine the least productive areas in Louisiana, we analyzed data from the most recent American Community Survey, focusing on metrics that can indicate lower productivity levels. Here are the ten towns where residents may be seen as less industrious:
Continue reading to discover which towns rank as the least productive, or jump to the end to check your town’s position.
Interestingly, Zachary has emerged as the most industrious town in Louisiana.
How We Determined the Least Productive Places in Louisiana
At Zippia, we prioritize data-driven insights to tackle tough questions about productivity trends. Our analysis relied on the latest American Community Survey data.
We focused on specific criteria to rank the productivity of Louisiana towns:
- Lowest average hours worked
- Shortest commute times
- Fewest workers per household (labor force divided by the number of households)
- Highest unemployment rates
- Fewest adults holding a college degree
The rationale behind our selection was straightforward: lower education levels, minimal work engagement, and sparse household income sources usually signify less productivity.
After evaluating 64 towns in Louisiana with populations exceeding 5,000, we ranked them from 1 to 64 based on the aforementioned criteria, with 1 being the least productive. The town with the lowest productivity index was declared the “Least Productive Place in Louisiana,” and Bogalusa topped the list.
Check out the detailed chart below to understand how each town scored.
1. Bogalusa
Population: 12,071 College Educated: 10.0%
Unemployment Rate: 23.5%
2. Tallulah
Population: 7,267 College Educated: 12.8%
Unemployment Rate: 22.0%
3. Springhill
Population: 5,239 College Educated: 17.8%
Unemployment Rate: 18.2%
4. Opelousas
Population: 16,668 College Educated: 11.8%
Unemployment Rate: 10.5%
5. Ville Platte
Population: 7,336 College Educated: 9.6%
Unemployment Rate: 13.6%
6. Mansfield
Population: 5,012 College Educated: 12.6%
Unemployment Rate: 16.0%
7. Richwood
Population: 5,846 College Educated: 3.1%
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
8. Bastrop
Population: 11,075 College Educated: 11.9%
Unemployment Rate: 15.5%
9. Crowley
Population: 13,219 College Educated: 10.4%
Unemployment Rate: 16.7%
10. Franklin
Population: 7,483 College Educated: 11.6%
Unemployment Rate: 20.1%
Understanding Productivity Levels
As previously mentioned, pinpointing the least productive areas in Louisiana can be subjective. However, by assessing factors like employment rates, educational attainment, and work hours, we have compiled a reliable list of towns struggling with productivity.
Detailed List of the Least Productive Places in Louisiana
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Bogalusa | 1 |
| Tallulah | 2 |
| Springhill | 3 |
| Opelousas | 4 |
| Ville Platte | 5 |
| Mansfield | 6 |
| Richwood | 7 |
| Bastrop | 8 |
| Crowley | 9 |
| Franklin | 10 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
