Indiana’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percent to 5.7 percent in April. Last month marked the ninth in a row of unemployment rate declines in the Hoosier State. Indiana’s unemployment rate has decreased by 2.1 percent over the past year and has remained below the national rate for the past four months.
The Hoosier state also added 4,400 private sector jobs in April. Since July of 2009, the low point of employment in the state, Indiana has added a total of 220,300 private sector jobs, one-third of which have come from the Manufacturing sector alone (+75,200).
Marshall County’s unemployment rate was 5.5 for April down from 6.5 in March. Looking at other counties surrounding Marshall we see LaPorte at 7.3, Starke County number 10 on the list of 92 counties with a rate of 6.9 and Saint Joseph County with a rate of 6.6. Fulton County was 26th on the list of counties with a rate of 6.2 and Elkhart County with a rate of 5.0 and 58th on the state list. Kosciusko has an unemployment rate of 4.1 and is 88th on the state list.
Indiana’s labor force increased by 11,700 in April, marking the seventh straight month of labor force growth. Additionally, Indiana’s labor force participation rate exceeded the national rate in April for the first time since July of 2009.
“April’s job numbers maintained the positive economic trend for 2014 in the Hoosier State,” said Scott B. Sanders, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. “Indiana’s unemployment rate continues to drop because more Hoosiers are going back to work as our labor force continues to grow, which is not the case with some of our neighboring states or the national trend as a whole.”
Sanders also noted claims for state unemployment insurance in April were nearly 10,000 below April 2013 levels. Initial claims and continued claims are now at levels not seen since 2000.
