03/19/13 Indiana added 8,200 private sector jobs in January, marking the 19th consecutive month of job growth.  Over the past month the Hoosier State accounted for nearly 6 percent of the nation’s private sector employment increases while adding jobs at three times the national rate (0.3 percent versus 0.1 percent).  Since July 2009, the low point of employment in the state, Indiana continues to outpace the national average for private sector growth (7,9 percent versus 4.9 percent). 

While Indiana experienced significant job gains in January, the 1,000 household survey used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated the unemployment rate rose 0.3 percent to 8.6 percent, due to the labor force increasing by nearly 14,000 individuals, more than 10,000 of which returned to look for work over the month.  January’s increase signifies the largest one-month expansion of our labor force since November 1993.

Looking at Marshall County you’ll see that unemployment rose from 9.0 in December to 10.4 in January ranking us as 38th in the state.  The unemployment rate in Marshall County continues to rise.  In October 2012 the rate was 7.7 followed by 8.5 in November and 9.0 in December. 

Taking a look at other counties surrounding Marshall County you’ll find Starke County at 12.5 and ranked 6th on the list of 92 counties.  Saint Joseph County sits at 28th on the list with a rate of 10.8 followed closely by Fulton County at 10.6 and ranked 31st. Elkhart County sits at 42nd in January 2013 while Kosciusko has dropped to 79th on the list with an unemployment rate of 8.4. 

Looking around the state of Indiana you see Vermillion County at the top of the list with a rate of 13.5 and Hamilton County at the bottom of the list with a rate of 6.7.   

Sectors showing significant gains in January included: Professional services (5,700), Leisure and Hospitality (2,200), All others (1,600), transportation and utilities (800).  The financial activities (-1,000), construction (-900) sectors showed significant decline.  Total non-farm employment increased in January (5,800).