Continuing the recent trend, the Hoosier State added 1,700 private sector jobs in February. Indiana has now experienced private sector job growth in 20 of the past 25 months. Gains in February were concentrated in the Private, Educational & Health Services (+2,500), Leisure and Hospitality (+2,200), and Manufacturing (+600) sectors. Private sector employment in the Hoosier State has grown by 98,700 over the past two years. Since July 2009, the low point of employment, 268,400 private sector jobs have been added in total.
Marshall County’s unemployment rate for February as 5.5% ranking us 58th of the 92 counties. Looking at the counties that surround us you will find LaPorte ranked 4th in the state with an unemployment rate of 8.6%. Starke County is 8th on the list with a rate of 8.2% and St. Joseph County is 31st with a rate of 6.6%. Fulton County has a rate of 6.5% ranking then 35th while Kosciusko is 77th with an unemployment rate of 5.2% and Elkhart County has dropped to 83rd on the list a counties with an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
Indiana’s unemployment rate also declined by 0.1 percent to 5.9 percent in February. Unemployment in the Hoosier State is now down by 2.4 percent over the past two years, and the labor force has grown by 82,000 individuals. Although Indiana’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 percent to 62.8 percent in February, it continues to be a full percentage point higher than the national average, and has exceeded the national rate for 11 months in a row.
“Indiana’s consistent private sector growth, particularly over the past two years, is an encouraging trend,” said Steven J. Braun, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. “Equally as important is the fact that during that time, our labor force has also grown by 82,000 individuals, which is one of the largest increases in the nation. Hoosiers, encouraged by the availability of good jobs, are reengaging in the workforce.”
Other sectors showing gains in February include: Construction (500). The Professional and Business Services (2,000), Trade, Transportation & Utilities(-1,000) and Financial Activities (-500) sectors declined in February. Total nonfarm employment increased in February (4,200).
