49 American States People Are Leaving and the States They Are Choosing Instead

In the Pelican State, residents yearn to escape the relentless heat and limited income prospects. A vast majority of movers cite work as their paramount reason for bidding adieu to Louisiana, surpassing the second most common motivator (family) by more than 30 percentage points. Strikingly, nearly half of these movers are under the age of 45.

Exacerbated by the pandemic’s blow, the state’s struggling energy industry has left many disheartened. The diminishing demand for oil and gas has triggered layoffs, further diminishing employment opportunities. Louisiana’s woes don’t stop there; it grapples with the recurring devastation of hurricanes, the most recent being the catastrophic Hurricane Ida. Each storm leaves behind more destruction and prompts more residents to seek refuge elsewhere.