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Find a Job in the Best Places to Live in Louisiana

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Louisiana is nestled in the deep south along the Gulf of Mexico and goes by the nicknames “the Pelican State” and “the Bayou State.” It’s known for its Cajun and Creole culture, excellent food, jazz and blues music, and strong French influences. If you’re planning on moving here, you may want to first explore the best places to live in Louisiana.

Not sure if Louisiana is right for you? Here are some reasons why residents are proud to call it home:

  • Louisiana has a unique culture and entertainment offerings.
  • You’ll find some of the best food in America here.
  • There are tons of fun festivals in Louisiana.
  • Residents have access to beaches and fishing ports.
  • The landscape is breathtaking.
  • Louisiana is among the friendliest states in America.

Ready to pack your bags to move to Louisiana? Below, Monster will guide you through what you can expect from living and working in Louisiana’s largest communities.

New Orleans

New Orleans is known for its world-renowned jazz music, unique food scene, Mardi Gras celebration, and other annual festivities. Many residents here love to come to the French Quarter for its restaurants, entertainment venues, and nightlife. Nowhere else in the world can you find the signature gumbo, jambalaya, or mint julep served here. It’s no wonder New Orleans has been ranked among the 10 best cities in America.

What else makes New Orleans one of the best places to live in Louisiana? For starters, the cost of living here is slightly lower than the national average. Not bad for a big metropolitan city. Plus, people looking for work in New Orleans can find jobs in a variety of industries, including technology, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and life sciences.

Find New Orleans jobs on Monster.

Baton Rouge

Known as “the Red Stick City,” Baton Rouge is the second-largest city in Louisiana and the state capital. Baton Rouge was ranked one of the best cities to live in Louisiana because of its diverse neighborhoods and booming economy. If you decide to live and work in Baton Rouge, you can browse Capitol Park Museum, catch a sporting event at LSU Tiger Stadium, or head downtown for an evening of dining, nightlife, and entertainment.

Not only is it relatively inexpensive to live in Baton Rouge, but you can also find tons of job opportunities here. The city’s top industries include oil and gas, healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, and education.

Find Baton Rouge jobs on Monster.

Shreveport

Shreveport is located in northwestern Louisiana near the Texas border. Residents love to call Shreveport home because of its lush green spaces, low cost of living, and business-friendly environment. On your days off, you can take a walk through the R.W. Norton Art Gallery or check out the sea life at Shreveport Aquarium. If you want to delve into the city’s history, check out Shreveport Water Works Museum. At the end of the day, head down to Red River Brewing Company or Great Raft Brewing to relax and enjoy a cold drink.

The city’s top employers include Barksdale Air Force Base, Caddo Parish Public Schools, and Willis-Knighton Medical Center. Plus, there are tons of other job opportunities in education, healthcare, public administration, and manufacturing.

Find Shreveport jobs on Monster.

Lafayette

Are you wondering what makes Lafayette one of the best places to live in Louisiana? Located just an hour west of Baton Rouge, Lafayette is known for its Cajun cuisine, traditional music, and festivals. It’s earned the nickname “the Hub City” because of its critical role in the Gulf Coast’s oil and gas industry. Lafayette’s downtown is packed with a variety of restaurants, shops, bars, art galleries, and music venues all within walking distance. Just outside the downtown area are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors, including Vermilionville and Lake Martin Rookery.

When you’re ready to search for jobs in Lafayette, start with the city’s key industries. There are tons of job opportunities in construction, retail, tourism, finance, manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and the law.

Find Lafayette jobs on Monster.

Lake Charles

Want to see why Lake Charles is one of the best places to live in Louisiana? It’s a hotspot for gambling, rhythm and blues music, and seafood cuisine. Try playing for a big win at the Golden Nugget Casino, walk by the water at Prien Lake Park, or explore the history of Louisiana’s largest festival at the Mardi Gras Museum.

Residents in Lake Charles also love its low cost of living and ample job opportunities. Jobs in tourism and hospitality can be found within the city’s casinos and resorts. Additionally, Lake Charles is a major petrochemical refining hub, which creates tons of industrial and engineering jobs. Other large sectors here include healthcare, education, construction, food services, arts and entertainment, and social assistance.

Find Lake Charles jobs on Monster.

Sign Up to Join the Louisiana Work Force

Have you decided to move to Louisiana? Now that you know where to find the best places to live in Louisiana, let Monster help you land a new job here. Just create your profile for free to get started. When you upload your resume, job recruiters in Louisiana will be able to find you whenever they have open positions. Plus, you can get ahead of the competition when you sign up to have free job alerts sent directly to your phone.