USA Today: Louisiana is one of the worst states in the US for economic health

Ranked 48 out of 50, with a 5 year GDP growth rate that is actually negative and the 4th highest unemployment rate in the nation.

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Which state tops list for having the best and worst economies?

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People with higher educational attainment also are more likely to have greater job stability and higher incomes, each of which are boons for a region’s economy.

Many of the states with contracting economies have a high reliance on jobs in energy extraction industries like coal mining and oil production. Four of the five worst ranked states on this list -- Louisiana, West Virginia, Alaska, and New Mexico -- also have among the largest mining sectors relative to total state employment.

When the price of oil collapsed beginning in 2014, many oil-dependent state economies suffered as a result. “These are states that are very reliant on energy -- either coal mining or oil drilling -- and they're not as diversified as the states at the top of the list,” Kohli said.

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Louisiana is one of several states with largely resource-based economies to rank among the bottom five. The state's employment in resource extraction is higher than the average nationwide, and petroleum refining and petroleum and coal products are far and away the state's largest exports. The global dip in oil prices in 2014 that continued through 2016 likely hindered economic growth in the state. Over the last five years, the state's GDP declined by an annual average of 0.1% -- the third lowest five-year change of all states. The decline in economic output came despite a 1.8% population increase over the same period.

Joblessness is a considerable problem in Louisiana. The state's 4.7% unemployment rate is among the highest in the country and well above the 3.8% U.S. unemployment rate.

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West Virginia and Alaska were even worse.

Even Mississippi outranks Louisiana.