Indiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined again in August by 0.1 percent to 4.6 percent. Last month marked the lowest rate of unemployment in the Hoosier State since August of 2007. Additionally, Indiana’s labor force increased by 5,629 individuals last month and has experienced a growth of nearly 83,000 since January 2013, which continues to be a Midwest leader. The Hoosier labor force participation rate also increased in August to 63.6 percent and remains a full percentage point above the national average.
As of August, private sector employment in the Hoosier State remains above all historic peak levels. Despite another decrease in unemployment rate, Indiana shed 5,500 private sector jobs in August. The decline concentrated mainly in the Professional and Business Services sector (-4,900), while the Manufacturing (+300), and Construction (+1,300) sectors experienced growth. Previously reported June and July private sector jobs numbers were revised upward 10,700 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Marshall County’s rate for August is 3.7 ranking us 75th of the 90 counties. This was another drop from July when we had a rate of 3.9. In June the county rate was 4.0.
Looking at the counties surrounding Marshall you find their unemployment rates have all decreased. LaPorte County went from 5.8 in July to 5.7 for August. Starke County also had a slight increase from 5.8 in July to 5.5. Saint Joseph County has been 31st on the list of 92 counties for three months. Their unemployment rate in July was 5.1 and dropped to 4.7 in August.
Fulton County’s rate decreased from a 4.6 in July to 4.2 in August while Pulaski County’s rate decrease from 4.3 in July to 3.8 last month. Kosciusko was at 3.9 in July and reduced to 3.8 in August. Elkhart County’s unemployment rate had been steady at 3.9 for the past two months but dropped to 3.6 in August.
Vermillion County stays at the top of the list of 92 counties with a rate of 6.6 in August, a decrease from7.1 in July. Dubois County is at the bottom of the list with a rate of 3.0 a decrease from 3.3 last month.
