Marshall County’s Unemployment Rate Continues to Increase

03/11/10 Indiana’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percent to 9.1 percent in January 2011, equal to the national decrease. This is the lowest unemployment rate since January 2009. The state added 10,600 private sector jobs in January.

“Indiana’s private sector job growth has outpaced the nation’s 2 to 1 since the low point of employment in October 2009,” said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “2011 is off to a good start with strong employment gains. We’ve seen increases in almost all areas of employment.”

Looking at Marshall County; in October we were ranked 26^th in the state with a rate of 10.0.  November saw the county’s ranking drop to 27^th but the rate rose to 10.4.  In November the unemployment ranking and rate both rose.  The ranking went up to 20^th in the state with a rate increasing to 10.5.  The trend in this county seems to be increasing with the number of unemployed while our ranking shows us fairing better. In January Marshall County ranked 26^th out of 92 counties but the rate increased to 11.1.  

Counties around Marshall County are: LaPorte at 11.2, St. Joseph at 10.2, Starke County at 12.1, Pulaski at 8.6, Fulton 10.5 and Kosciusko at 9.2.  Elkhart County dropped from the number one spot to 6^th in the state with a rate of 12.2.  

Sectors showing significant employment gains in January include: Construction (5,000), Trade, Transportation & Utilities (4,500), Manufacturing (3,100), Financial Activities (1,500) and All Other (1,400). Sectors showing significant declines are Professional and Business Services (-3,700) and Private Education and Health Services (-1,600). Total non-farm employment increased (13,900) in January.

Midwest Employment Picture