A right-to work state for more than three decades, Louisiana ranks in the Top 10 for lowest rates of private workforce unionization. It is also home to LED FastStart, one of the nation’s top state workforce development programs, which creates customized workforce recruitment, screening, and training solutions.
The people of Acadiana believe that success is created through education, dedication, and hard work. Let us introduce you to a workforce that is eager and capable of meeting the demands of your growing business.
We are ready to help you find the people you need.
Partnerships between the business community and higher education institutions across our nine-parish region ensure top-notch education and training, building a workforce pipeline capable of supporting high-growth sectors and cultivating a diversified economy.
Higher Education
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
UL Lafayette is designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a Tier 1 research university (R1), and it is among the top 10 universities in the U.S. for its percentage of R&D expenditures funded by business, according to the National Science Foundation. UL Lafayette’s College of Engineering is its largest undergraduate program boasting over 2,700 undergraduate students, 177 master’s students, and 41 PhD students representing 45 states and 25 countries. The college focuses on providing “hands-on” learning experiences with a strong emphasis on internship and cooperative learning experiences. Over 200 companies regularly recruit its Engineering and Technology graduates.
Louisiana State University Eunice
Located in a rich and fertile section of Acadiana known as the “tri-parish area”, LSU Eunice is a two-year university in the LSU system offering numerous transfer degree programs, technical certificates, and associate degrees. It is nationally recognized for its allied health programs, and its developmental education program, Pathways to Success.
South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc)
SoLAcc offers technical diplomas, workforce training, high school dual enrollment and two-year degree programs. It maintains 9 campuses across the Acadiana region, and offers 35 areas of study via traditional, evening, and web-based courses. SoLAcc is focused on job placement, and maintains strong ties to local businesses who trust in the capabilities of its graduates.
SOWELA Technical Community College
It offers programs in fields such as criminal justice, industrial instrumentation technology, office systems technology, and process technology.
One Acadiana ConnectEd leverages our unique role in the workforce ecosystem as a connector of business and education. One Acadiana ConnectEd activities include:
- A quarterly industry roundtable series
- Linking educators with industry
- Promoting career-connected learning
Higher Education Enrollment
| INSTITUTION* | ENROLLMENT** |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State University | 43,441 |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 15,773 |
| McNeese State University | 6,252 |
| Southern University and A&M College | 8,279 |
| South Louisiana Community College | 5,462 |
| SOWELA Technical Community College | 3,446 |
| Louisiana State University at Eunice | 3,672 |
| Total | 86,325 |
*Above includes universities and vocational schools within 75 miles of central Acadiana
**Above enrollment is for Fall 2024
Source: Louisiana Board of Regents, 2025
Explore Our Region
- acadia
- Evangeline
- Iberia
- Jeff Davis
- Lafayette
- St. Landry
- St. Martin
- St. Mary
- Vermilion
Vermilion Parish
From its productive farmland and working waterfronts to a new future in space exploration, Vermilion Parish is a community rooted in tradition and positioned for transformational growth. SpaceX’s investment is bringing a major launch and operations campus to the parish, opening new possibilities for businesses, workers, and communities while building on Vermilion’s longstanding strengths in agriculture, seafood, energy, and maritime industries. With Gulf Coast access, strong transportation connections, and an unmistakable Cajun culture, Vermilion Parish is positioned for an exciting future.
St. Mary Parish
Strategically positioned between the Atchafalaya Basin and the Gulf of Mexico, St. Mary Parish has built an economy closely connected to the water. The parish’s skilled workforce and established strengths in marine services, shipbuilding, energy, manufacturing, seafood, and agriculture support businesses serving markets across Louisiana and beyond. From Morgan City and Berwick to Patterson, Franklin, Baldwin, and surrounding areas, St. Mary Parish combines industrial capability with the culture and quality of life of Louisiana’s Cajun Coast.
St. Martin Parish
St. Martin Parish combines strategic access, a strong industrial base, and distinctive natural and cultural assets to create opportunities for businesses and communities alike. Located along key transportation corridors including Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90, its economy is supported by manufacturing, energy, agriculture, marine industries, and small businesses, while communities such as Breaux Bridge, St. Martinville, and Henderson contribute to a strong sense of place. From the Atchafalaya Basin to Bayou Teche, St. Martin Parish offers a unique combination of economic opportunity, connectivity, and authentic Acadiana culture.
St. Landry Parish
Positioned along Interstate 49 and U.S. Highway 190, St. Landry Parish connects Acadiana with central and northern Louisiana which offers a strong foundation for continued business and industrial growth. The parish’s economy encompasses agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and a growing base of entrepreneurs and small businesses. As one of Louisiana’s oldest and most culturally diverse parishes, St. Landry also brings together deep Cajun and Creole traditions, historic communities, and a strong sense of place alongside its focus on new investment and economic opportunity.
Jeff Davis Parish
Rich in culture, natural beauty, and economic opportunity, Jeff Davis Parish offers the perks of small-town living while its strategic position along the I-10 corridor offers convenient access to the broader regional economy Boasting assets such as the Lacassine Industrial Park, a diverse industry base, and a strong cultural and agricultural heritage, Jeff Davis Parish offers businesses and families room to grow and thrive.
Iberia Parish
Iberia Parish combines generations of industrial expertise with a growing and diversifying economy. Longstanding strengths in energy, fabrication, manufacturing, and maritime industries are being complemented by major new investments, including First Solar’s manufacturing facility. With strategic assets such as the Port of Iberia and Acadiana Regional Airport, a skilled workforce, and a rich Cajun heritage, Iberia Parish offers a strong environment for businesses and communities to grow.
Evangeline Parish
Sitting in the region’s northwest corner, Evangeline Parish offers businesses and residents the advantages of a close-knit community with strong connections to the broader Acadiana economy. The parish maintains deep connections to agriculture, forestry, food production, and other industries rooted in the area’s natural resources. Distinguished by its strong Cajun and French heritage, Evangeline Parish is where tradition, food, music, and community remain an important part of everyday life.
Acadia Parish
Acadia Parish pairs strategic connectivity with a business-friendly environment and a workforce rooted in a strong tradition of hard work and entrepreneurship. Located along I-10 and supported by highway, rail, water, and air transportation assets, the parish provides businesses with access to markets across Acadiana and beyond. From Crowley and Rayne to Church Point, Eunice, and surrounding communities, Acadia Parish offers room for investment and growth while maintaining the affordability and quality of life that contribute to the parish’s unique identity.
Lafayette Parish
Located at the heart of Acadiana, Lafayette Parish is a thriving hub for business, culture, and opportunity. Anchored by the “Hub-City” of Lafayette and strengthened by surrounding communities that continue to grow and flourish, the parish combines a skilled workforce, strong infrastructure, strategic location, and diverse business community with an exceptional quality of life. Together, these assets make Lafayette Parish a dynamic place to live, work, grow, and do business.