Residents of predominantly Black communities near the lower Mississippi River have long felt the weight of pollution from nearby chemical plants without reaping the benefits of the jobs these industries create. A new study from Tulane University confirms their concerns, highlighting significant racial inequalities within the petrochemical workforce in the United States, particularly in Louisiana.
The research shows that people of color are largely missing from both high-paying and low-paying jobs in the petrochemical sector. Kimberly Terrell, a research scientist with the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, expressed surprise at the consistent underrepresentation of people of color across various states and regions. “No matter how you slice the data, it’s clear,” she said.
In Louisiana, an area often referred to as "Cancer Alley" due to its high levels of toxic air pollution, the burden of environmental harm falls heavily on Black and low-income communities. Joy Banner, co-founder of the nonprofit Descendants Project, noted that while community members have long suspected job disparities, the study’s clear numbers were shocking.
The findings indicate that people of color are underrepresented in the highest-paying jobs in the petrochemical industry across the 30 states studied, with Louisiana and Texas showing the most severe discrepancies. In Texas, while nearly 60% of the working-age population is non-white, people of color hold only 39% of higher-paying positions. In Louisiana, the situation is even worse: people of color make up 41% of the working-age population but only occupy 21% of high-paying jobs and about 33% of lower-paying ones.
The study utilized data from various sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In response, the Louisiana Chemical Association challenged the study’s conclusions, claiming it presents an incomplete picture of the industry. David Cresson, the association’s president, mentioned workforce development programs and scholarships aimed at improving job access for underrepresented groups.
However, the study suggests that educational disparities do not fully explain the lack of representation. In Louisiana, the college attainment gap between white residents and people of color is relatively small—30% for whites compared to 20% for people of color. In some areas where petrochemical jobs are prevalent, the gap is as little as five percentage points.
Critics argue that the industry’s efforts to support education are more about public relations than genuine change. Banner stated that the financial contributions made by the industry pale in comparison to their profits, leaving local communities with little benefit.
The study also highlights that Louisiana is not receiving adequate returns from tax incentives designed to attract jobs. The state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program has given significant property tax breaks to companies in exchange for job creation, but many of these tax revenues do not benefit the local communities that bear the brunt of pollution.
Gianna St. Julien, one of the study’s authors, emphasized that the trade-off of pollution for jobs has never been fair. “The majority of these companies’ property taxes are not being reinvested into these struggling communities,” she said.
As these findings circulate, they add to the ongoing conversation about environmental justice and economic equity in Louisiana’s petrochemical corridor.