The Hoosier State gained 9,900 private sector jobs in July, with gains largely concentrated in the manufacturing sector with 5,500 jobs. Indiana has added over 66,300 private sector jobs over the past year and 244,000 since July, 2009, the low point of employment in the state.
Despite Indiana’s significant private sector gains, the unemployment rate held steady in the Hoosier State at 5.9 percent in July, mainly due to another sizeable increase in the labor force. Indiana’s labor force has grown by more than 54,000 over the past year at a rate that is over eight times larger than the national rate of growth during the same time period (1.71% vs. 0.21%).
The unemployment rate in Marshall County for July is 5.2 ranking the county 60th. The June rate was 5.7 up a tenth of a percent from the 5.6 ranking in May.
Looking at counties around Marshall County you find LaPorte dropped to 10th on the list with a rate of 7.0 improving from 8th in June with a rate of 7.5. Their May rate was 7.3. Saint Joseph County is 16th on the list of counties up from 18th last month. Their July rate is 6.7 down from 6.9. Starke County moved up the list to 23rd from 27th in June. Last month their rate was 6.6 and this month it improved to 6.5. Fulton County had a rate of 6.1 for June, a tenth of a percent lower than their May ranking of 6.2. Their July rank was 41st with a rate of 5.7. Elkhart County dropped to 59 with a rate of 5.2. Last month their rate was 5.6. Kosciusko County is ranked 86th in July with a rate of 4.5 an improvement from the 4.7 in June.
“Indiana followed up a record-breaking June by adding nearly 10,000 more private sector jobs in July,” said Scott B. Sanders, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. “The Hoosier labor force has also grown by over 54,000 individuals in the past year at a rate that is more than eight times larger than the national rate of growth during the same time period, which is quite remarkable.”
Sanders also noted initial claims and continued claims for unemployment insurance benefits remain at levels not seen since 2000.
Sectors showing gains in July include: Manufacturing (5,500), Trade, Transportation & Utilities (3,200), Private Educational & Health Services (2,100), Construction (900), and Financial Activities (200). Sectors showing declines in July include Professional & Business Services (-2,100), and Leisure and Hospitality (-500). Total non-farm employment decreased in July (-600).
