12/20/10 Indiana’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.1 percent to 9.8 percent in November 2010. This decline puts Indiana at the same rate as the nation. Though private sector employment in Indiana declined in November (-2,600), the state has added 46,200 private sector jobs in 2010, an increase of 2.0 percent. In contrast, U.S. private sector job growth for the year stands at 1.1 percent.

“Indiana’s unemployment rate has decreased by four-tenths of a percent since the summer. This decline is noteworthy because the U.S. rate has been going up during the same period,” said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development.

Local rankings of Marshall County and area counties of interest include: Elkhart at the top of the list with a rate of 13.3, Starke County is 7th with a rate of 11.3 followed by LaPorte at 17 with a rate of 10.7 with Saint Joseph being 21st in the state with a rate of 10.6 and Marshall County at 27th with a rate of 10.4.  Fulton County is 43rd with a 9.6 rate and Kosciusko is 58th with a rate of 8.9.

In October Marshall was ranked 26th with a rate of 10.0.

Employment by Sector

Sectors showing significant employment gains in November include: Professional and Business Services (7,600), Leisure and Hospitality (1,500) and Financial Activities (500). Sectors showing significant declines are Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-5,000), Manufacturing (-4,400) and Construction (-2,100). Total non-farm employment decreased (-1,800) in November.

Midwest Employment Picture

November 2009 October
2010		 November
2010		 Monthly Change
Indiana 9.8% 9.9% 9.8% -0.1%
U.S. 10.0% 9.6% 9.8% +0.2%
Illinois 10.9% 9.8% 9.6% -0.2%
Kentucky 10.7% 10.0% 10.2% +0.2%
Ohio 10.8% 9.9% 9.8% -0.1%
Michigan 14.4% 12.8% 12.4% -0.4%

EDITOR’S NOTE: October 2010 private sector employment was revised (-900) from the preliminary estimate. The December Employment Report will be released on Tuesday, January 25, 2010.