Data: Louisiana oil, gas refineries hire employees from out of town

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify the source of the data included. We regret the confusion.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — New research shows that Louisiana isn’t getting promised, high-paying oil and gas jobs. Instead of hiring from neighborhoods near the plants, they are hiring from out of town.

Data from the Tulane University Environmental Law Clinic and compiled by Floodlight News shows significant differences between who works at the plants and the surrounding communities. (Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to climate change coverage.)

Terry L. Jones, a Baton Rouge resident and Floodlight reporter, found the following:

• St. John’s Parish: 70% of the working-age population are people of color, they hold 28% of manufacturing jobs.
• East Baton Rouge: 55% of the working-age population are people of color, they hold 28% of manufacturing jobs.
• Iberville: 51% of the working-age population are people of color, they hold 28% of manufacturing jobs.
• West Baton Rouge: 42% of the working-age population are people of color, they hold 24% of manufacturing jobs.

Jones published his own piece with the findings on Floodlight in partnership with Grist, Verite, the Illuminator and WWNO. He also spoke to NPR’s “All Things Considered” about his work.