May 2011 Indiana Employment Report

“The steady improvement in the unemployment rate means the state is no longer eligible for a portion of the federally funded extended benefits,” said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “As a result, Hoosiers will be eligible for up to 93 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits instead of 99 weeks. This is still well above the maximum amount of benefits offered in any previous recession, the highest being 55 weeks in 1983.”

The unemployment rate in Marshall County rose slightly from April to May.  In April it was at 9.0 and May finished at 9.1. Since the first of the year rates in the county have been 11.2 in January, 10.6 in February, 10.0 in Marshal, 9.0 in April and 9.1 in May ranking us 29^th in the state.

Looking at counties surrounding Elkhart stayed steady at 10.1 ranking them 7^th in the state.  Starke County was also steady with a rate of 10.1 ranked 8^th.  Other counties include Saint Joseph 21^st with a rate of 9.5, Fulton County 45 with a rate of 8.4 and Kosciusko County 71^st with a rate of 7.4.  

Due to the state’s three month average unemployment rate falling below 8.5 percent, weeks 73-79 of unemployment benefits, also known as tier four, are no longer available. Only states with a three month average unemployment rate above 8.5 percent are eligible. Hoosiers currently receiving these benefits will be allowed to finish, but new claims will not be accepted beginning Sunday, July 10, 2011. Individuals who exhaust tier three after this date may apply for an additional 20 weeks of extended benefits. More information is available at www.in.gov/dwd/.   

Sectors showing significant employment gains in May include: Private Education and Health Services (1,900), Financial Activities (1,900), Leisure and Hospitality (1,400) and Construction (500). The Trade, Transportation & Utilities (-3,400) and Government (-6,900) sectors showed significant decline. Total non-farm employment decreased (-5,200) in May.