The New Orleans Metairie metro area remains an important economic center for the Gulf South. State forecasts project about 11,400 new jobs over the next 2 years, which is equal to roughly 2.4% job growth. A few key New Orleans industries are the biggest drivers of this growth.
|
“Every industry has their own set of technological needs, but the right IT partner will be able to meet them and offer new key insights!” – Eric Thibodeaux, Co-Founder of InfoTECH Solutions |
While these 2 industries remain important, the local economy is shifting away from its long dependence on tourism and oil extraction. Regional leaders and employers now focus on future energy development, specialized healthcare services, and advanced logistics.
The rest of this article will take a closer look at these key industries. We will also explore their unique technology needs and how the right managed IT service provider (MSP) can offer assistance.
The 6 Biggest Industries in New Orleans, Louisiana
1. Port & Maritime Logistics
The Port of New Orleans plays a major role in the regional economy. An August 2025 Economic Impact Report values its total U.S. economic impact at $101.5 billion. In Louisiana, marine cargo activity generates about $31.5 billion, which equals roughly 8.3% of the state’s GDP, and supports more than 122,300 jobs.
The port is also expanding through the $1.8 billion Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish, which began construction in late 2025 and will handle up to 2 million TEUs each year once complete.
2. Energy Production & Extraction
Energy has played a central role in the New Orleans economy for decades, and that has not changed. The industry accounts for 25% of the state’s total economic activity. In the River Corridor, energy supports 134,654 jobs and contributes $39.1 billion in local economic value.
The sector continues to change by using an all-of-the-above approach that combines 15 oil refineries with a capacity of 3 million barrels per day and new investments in carbon capture and liquefied natural gas.
3. Healthcare Services
Healthcare contributes about $7.3 billion to the region’s Gross Regional Product. Major systems such as Ochsner Health and LCMC Health employ more than 71,000 people across the metro area, according to the City of New Orleans Regional Plan 2024–2027. Health systems continue to invest in specialized care facilities and research centers in the downtown BioDistrict.
Count on 24/7 Support When You Need It Most
4. Tourism & Hospitality
New Orleans continues to draw visitors from around the world. The city welcomed 44.5 million visitors, who spent $18.5 billion, throughout a single year. As a result, leisure and hospitality employment reached about 69,400 jobs by late 2025. Large events and cruise travel continue to support growth, including a record 165,000 cruise passenger movements in a single month during March 2025.
5. Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing in the New Orleans area focuses heavily on aerospace and defense, led by the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility. In 2025, the region added Propel Park, a $100 million industrial project at Michoud that provides 1 million square feet of space for companies such as Textron Systems.
6. Legal Services
The New Orleans legal market focuses on insurance defense, maritime law, and construction litigation. A 2025 industry trends report shows the market is shifting toward boutique firms and a higher demand for specialized litigators. Mid-level associates in areas such as healthcare compliance and commercial litigation earn between $115,000 and $165,000.
What Are Some of The Unique Technology Needs of Industries in New Orleans?
1. Disaster Resilience & Business Continuity
New Orleans industries face ongoing hurricane and flood risks, which require highly available IT systems. Off-site data replication and redundant cloud setups matter because backups alone can fail when recovery is needed most. CloudSecureTech also shows that even a 3% recovery gap is a serious risk since failed restores often appear only during real events.
Many construction and maritime firms also depend on job shacks or mobile command centers with fast, deployable network access so teams can resume operations quickly during hurricane season.
2. Multi-Modal Supply Chain Visibility
New Orleans logistics firms operate at the intersection of rail, port, and highway systems, which makes cargo tracking more complex. Companies need integrated technology to follow shipments as they move between ships, trains, and trucks.
Tools such as IoT sensors and shared communication platforms help connect ship crews, rail operators, and warehouse teams in real time so everyone works from the same information.
3. Data Integrity & Regulatory Compliance
The New Orleans medical corridor must follow strict HIPAA and GLBA rules. As a center for medical research and clinical trials, healthcare providers handle large amounts of sensitive patient data while keeping critical equipment online at all times.
Technology teams must focus on strong endpoint protection and regular compliance reviews to reduce risk, support patient safety, and maintain required accreditation.
|
Learn More About What Your New Orleans Business Can Do With Technology |
What New Orleans Industries Can Do To Stay Competitive
How New Orleans Top Industries Can Benefit From Managed IT Services
|
Port & Maritime Logistics |
|
|
Energy Production & Extraction |
|
|
Healthcare Services |
|
|
Tourism & Hospitality |
|
|
Advanced Manufacturing |
|
|
Legal Services |
|
Choose an IT Partner Who Understands What New Orleans Industries Need
If you run a business in New Orleans, there is no better IT partner for you than one that also operates in the city. By choosing a managed IT service provider (MSP) in New Orleans, you’ll get faster access to on-site support and IT consultants who have a clear understanding of your needs.
Choose InfoTECH Solutions to get local support. Our team is confident that we can assist any of the top industries in New Orleans and more! You can count on us for reliable:
-
and more!
Contact us today to learn more.