re: Real estate in BTR is stupid right now.

This. The big employer sources are:
1. Plants: operaters, engineers, contractors, ect. The main plants are along the river in St. Gabriel, Plaquemine (Dow), Port Allen (Placid), North BR (Exxon), Geismar (BASF, Honeywell, Methanex, Westgate, Oxy, Air Liquide, ect), and by the sunshine bridge (Motiva, Shell, and Nucor). There are tons of fab shops and suppliers all over the place including Epic which is in Walker. There's a ton in North BR, Port Allen, and in south BR (construction companies) along airline and Old Jefferson between Parkview Baptist and Airline @ LA 42.

2. State government downtown

3. LSU

4. Hospital corridor (essen/bluebonnet)

5. Corporate offices and law firms downtown