Louisiana’s diverse economy—ranging from healthcare to manufacturing—offers high-paying career opportunities. Yet, the state faces serious workforce challenges, ranking 46th in employment rate with less than 60% labor force participation and over 110,000 job openings each month. Additionally, a significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line. Despite numerous assistance programs, Louisiana has lacked a streamlined system to connect residents to the help they need.
Governor Jeff Landry’s “One Door” initiative aims to change that. This commonsense plan consolidates dozens of workforce and support programs into a single, accessible entry point. The goal: simplify access to services and boost employment. This model has already proven effective in Utah, where it connected residents to re-employment services, resulting in the state’s lower poverty, unemployment, and Medicaid enrollment.
To implement the “One Door” model, Governor Landry has championed this program by implementing a dedicated task force to improve and integrate education, training, and support systems. This approach avoids the creation of new programs, focusing instead on improving access to existing ones, promoting both efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
The plan gained momentum thanks to state Reps. Kim Carver, R-Mandeville, and Stephanie Berault, R-Slidell, who sponsored the legislation. Both bills have now passed and are awaiting the governor’s signature.
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has been a vocal supporter. In a recent op-ed supporting the model, Cassidy wrote that it is a “common-sense, forward-thinking approach to modernize Louisiana’s workforce” and thanked Landry and both state representatives for their commitment to improving Louisiana’s economy. Cassidy’s commitment to helping their efforts in the U.S. Congress will help bring the “One Door” program across the finish line and ensure every Louisianan has access to the tools they need to get ahead.
