What is Lafayette's #1 Industry?

[CajunFun]

Article up.

As I have noted in other threads, we're trying to move these articles in a direction to get people speaking out on UL funding.

[ULtimateCajun]

I agree that we do need to focus more on education in Lafayette and in the state. But as far as the figures go, do other cities/states count education employees into these figures and LEDA has not, or is this just not factored in anywhere?

[Cajunsmike]

_ Article up.

As I have noted in other threads, we're trying to move these articles in a direction to get people speaking out on UL funding. _

Education may employ more people than anyone, but it is not an industry. Something government related cannot be an industry. What education does is prepare people for industry. It does work hand in hand though as an area with educated folks makes it more likely industry will locate in that area. Also, if you think health care would be as strong here as it is without the oil industry foundation, you are sadly mistaken. Although many major producing companies have left, Lafayette is the hub of the oil service industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Oil service companies are the Halliburton's and Schlumberger's while producing companies are Stone and Chevron. They are different aspects. Were that to dry up, support for education would be reduced and much of the health care growth would disappear. Although oil may not be the top employer in the area, it is the base which everything else revolves around. Just go ask the United Way folks where most of their contributions come from and you will see how much of a force it is in the economy of the area.

[ULtimateCajun]

I'm not refuting your findings doc but I think these figures are gathered without factoring education workers throughout the Country which in turn is the standard of doing it. I could be wrong. Also LEDA gets there figures from an outside source. This isn't just a Lafayette thing, it's a US thing.

[Crawfish]

_ Education may employ more people than anyone, but it is not an industry. Something government related cannot be an industry. What education does is prepare people for industry. It does work hand in hand though as an area with educated folks makes it more likely industry will locate in that area. Also, if you think health care would be as strong here as it is without the oil industry foundation, you are sadly mistaken. Although many major producing companies have left, Lafayette is the hub of the oil service industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Oil service companies are the Halliburton's and Schlumberger's while producing companies are Stone and Chevron. They are different aspects. Were that to dry up, support for education would be reduced and much of the health care growth would disappear. Although oil may not be the top employer in the area, it is the base which everything else revolves around. Just go ask the United Way folks where most of their contributions come from and you will see how much of a force it is in the economy of the area. _

You are correct Mike. It should also be noted that a great deal of the money that goes into the university comes from these sources as well. After the glut of the 80s, Lafayette seemed to be ashamed of it's involvement in the in oil business. For good or bad, oil has had a big part of building this town and has contributed to the growth of UL. Lafayette's economy is now a bit more diverse, but make no mistake about it, oil is still a huge part of this economy, and will be for at least 10-20 more years.

Hopefully, this time around the oil business will be able to find a "soft bottom" so that the effects of the economic downturn will not be catastrophic in Lafayette.

[Cajun90]

Education may employ more people than anyone, but it is not an industry. Something government related cannot be an industry. What education does is prepare people for industry. It does work hand in hand though as an area with educated folks makes it more likely industry will locate in that area. Also, if you think health care would be as strong here as it is without the oil industry foundation, you are sadly mistaken. Although many major producing companies have left, Lafayette is the hub of the oil service industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Oil service companies are the Halliburton's and Schlumberger's while producing companies are Stone and Chevron. They are different aspects. Were that to dry up, support for education would be reduced and much of the health care growth would disappear. Although oil may not be the top employer in the area, it is the base which everything else revolves around. Just go ask the United Way folks where most of their contributions come from and you will see how much of a force it is in the economy of the area.

Good explanation and I think lack of educational support in this state is one of primary deficiencies we face however it is an apples & oranges comparison to industry. A very large percentage of manufacturing jobs in this area are heavily dependent upon oil & gas. They don't show up in the mining segment of reports but depend very heavily on mining as does commercial transportation. The company I work for is 100% dependent upon oil & gas. As a manufacturer we also have a huge trickle down effect as we buy from local distributors, and machine shops. We then hire local transportation companies to move this equipment. So our numbers don't show up in "mining" but are 100% dependent on mining and we support dozens of other jobs that don't show up in this category as well.

I'm glad Lafayette has diversified its economic base but no matter how you try to cut it we are still heavily dependent upon oil & gas. An interesting aspect many may not recognize is that a lot of "local" oil & gas companies that survived the 80's downturn diversified themselves through markets. Instead of being dependent only upon the GOM they now service a worldwide market.

[CajunFun]

_ Education may employ more people than anyone, but it is not an industry. Something government related cannot be an industry. What education does is prepare people for industry. It does work hand in hand though as an area with educated folks makes it more likely industry will locate in that area. Also, if you think health care would be as strong here as it is without the oil industry foundation, you are sadly mistaken. Although many major producing companies have left, Lafayette is the hub of the oil service industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Oil service companies are the Halliburton's and Schlumberger's while producing companies are Stone and Chevron. They are different aspects. Were that to dry up, support for education would be reduced and much of the health care growth would disappear. Although oil may not be the top employer in the area, it is the base which everything else revolves around. Just go ask the United Way folks where most of their contributions come from and you will see how much of a force it is in the economy of the area. _

Mike,

I dunno.

If I spend money in a casino, that's an industry. If I spend money on cigarettes, that's an industry. If I spend money at the bordellos in Reno, that's an industry.

But if I run myself into debt spending money to get an education...

...that's not an industry?

What's your definition?

[CajunFun]

This isn't just a Lafayette thing, it's a US thing. _

Absolutely.

But to my mind, the biggest winners in profiting from education, are college towns.

Economics is always a competition. Every city has K-12. Cities in America have an advantage over parts of the world where there is not education, but we don't necessarily get an advantage over cities in the developed world.

But only a few cities in any country have colleges & universities, which not only produce leaders for business and community, but which attract students into the community for four or more years, where they spend about $15-40K per year.

That's a bonanza. That's what we need to capitalize on.

[cajun4life]

_ Education may employ more people than anyone, but it is not an industry. Something government related cannot be an industry. What education does is prepare people for industry. It does work hand in hand though as an area with educated folks makes it more likely industry will locate in that area. Also, if you think health care would be as strong here as it is without the oil industry foundation, you are sadly mistaken. Although many major producing companies have left, Lafayette is the hub of the oil service industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Oil service companies are the Halliburton's and Schlumberger's while producing companies are Stone and Chevron. They are different aspects. Were that to dry up, support for education would be reduced and much of the health care growth would disappear. Although oil may not be the top employer in the area, it is the base which everything else revolves around. Just go ask the United Way folks where most of their contributions come from and you will see how much of a force it is in the economy of the area. _

Maybe you are correct, but state government is the largest single employer in the state not just Lafayette. There is a serious problem when this occurs. You want to talk about big government.

[RCAJUN90]

_ Article up.

As I have noted in other threads, we're trying to move these articles in a direction to get people speaking out on UL funding. _

Promoting obscure websites?

[cypremort]

Fungus, here is some more data from the WSJ for your endeavor...

http://www.emailthis.clickability.co...oID=1621815966

Extremely disappointing that UL is not linked with the low Lafayette unemployment rate unlike the other cities listed.

(FYI, link is only good for 7 days , Wall Street Journal online is a paid subscription service)

[CajunFun]

_ Education may employ more people than anyone, but it is not an industry. Something government related cannot be an industry. What education does is prepare people for industry. It does work hand in hand though as an area with educated folks makes it more likely industry will locate in that area. Also, if you think health care would be as strong here as it is without the oil industry foundation, you are sadly mistaken. Although many major producing companies have left, Lafayette is the hub of the oil service industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Oil service companies are the Halliburton's and Schlumberger's while producing companies are Stone and Chevron. They are different aspects. Were that to dry up, support for education would be reduced and much of the health care growth would disappear. Although oil may not be the top employer in the area, it is the base which everything else revolves around. Just go ask the United Way folks where most of their contributions come from and you will see how much of a force it is in the economy of the area. _

Mike,

I thought about your comments... are you excluding education because the government runs it?

At one time, roads, libraries, and schools were all private industries, profitable ones. And there are still examples of private corporations that supply these things. They were so profitable, and so beneficial, that the government supplied them for everyone.

Likewise, health care is an industry; does it stop being an industry when the Armed Forces, the VA, or other public entities supply it?

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just interested in how you came at that position, and where and when you draw the line, that's all.