01/26/11 Indiana’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percent to 9.5 percent in December 2010, a 0.2 percent decrease from one year ago. The last time Indiana’s unemployment rate was at 9.5 percent was February 2009. The number of unemployed Hoosiers is below 300,000 for the first time since January 2009. Private sector employment in Indiana declined in December (-9,100); however, the state added 36,400 private sector jobs in 2010.
“Indiana’s unemployment rate is at its lowest level in almost two years,” said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “Over the course of 2010, we saw growth in manufacturing and professional and business services, partially offset by declines in construction.”
Locally Marshall County rose up the list of counties from 26 in October with a rate of 10.0 to 27th in November with a rate of 10.4 to 20th in December with a rate of 10.5. Other counties surrounding Marshall County rank Kosciusko 61st with a rate of 8.7, Fulton County 39th with a rate of 9.6, Saint Joseph County with a rate of 10.3, Starke County sits in 7th place with a rate of 11.3 and Elkhart County remains at the top of the list with a rate of 12.8.
Sectors showing significant employment gains in December include: Manufacturing (2,700), Private Education and Health Services (2,700), Financial Activities (900) and All Other (1,700). Sectors showing significant declines are Leisure and Hospitality (-6,800), Construction (-6,200) and Professional and Business Services (-3,500). Total non-farm employment decreased (-11,500) in December.
Midwest Employment Picture
| December 2009 | November 2010 |
December 2010 |
Monthly Change | |
| Indiana | 9.7% | 9.8% | 9.5% | -0.3% |
| U.S. | 9.9% | 9.8% | 9.4% | -0.4% |
| Illinois | 11.0% | 9.6% | 9.3% | -0.3% |
| Kentucky | 10.6% | 10.2% | 10.3% | +0.1% |
| Ohio | 10.8% | 9.8% | 9.6% | -0.2% |
| Michigan | 14.5% | 12.4% | 11.7% | -0.7% |
