Indiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.4 percent in December, marking a 1.5 percent decrease over the past year. The Hoosier labor force also maintained a positive trend, gaining more than 10,000 individuals in December, which brings the total labor force growth for the year to 37,762 and 109,037 added since January 2013. December also marks the twentieth month in a row that Indiana’s labor force participation rate has exceeded the national rate (63.9 percent vs. 62.6 percent).
Marshall County’s unemployment rate continues to see a slight increase. From September to October our rate increased from 3.5 to 3.6. The November rate increased to 3.9 and now the December rate is 4.0.
Looking at the counties surrounding Marshall you will find LaPorte County who continues to be in the top 10. In October their rate was 5.8, November was 5.7 and December’s rate was 6.4. Starke County’s rate was 5.0 in September and October, increased to 5.6 for November and substantially increased in December to 6.4. Saint Joseph County continues to see slight monthly increases in their unemployment rate. September was 4.2 while October increased to 4.4 and November is 4.7 December was 4.8. Fulton County has had slight increases, 3.8 in September, 4.1 in October, 4.5 in November and then a jump in December to 5.3. Kosciusko County is 65 on the list of ninety-two counties with a rate of 4.0 while Elkhart County’s rate increased from 3.5 in October to a 3.8 in November and actually dropped in December to 3.6.
December private sector employment gains in Trade, Transportation & Utilities (+5,200) and Construction (+1,800), were offset by losses in Manufacturing (-3,400), Private Educational and Health Services (-1,200), Financial Activities (-800), Professional and Business Services (-400), and Leisure and Hospitality (-400). Indiana has added 140,500 private sector jobs (+5.6%) since January 2013, however.
“Indiana’s unemployment rate continues to be at its lowest level in more than a decade,” said Steven J. Braun, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. “Additionally, claims for unemployment insurance are at their lowest point since 1998.”
Braun also noted that private sector increases have averaged nearly 4,000 per month over the past 36 months.
