Indiana Unemployment Rate Falls Again
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana is reporting its ninth consecutive monthly decline in the unemployment rate. The state says the April rate was 5.7 percent, compared to 5.9 percent in March. Indiana added 4,400 private sector jobs last month. May 16, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – 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).
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.
Employment by Sector
Sectors showing gains in April include: Trade, Transportation & Utilities (2,000), Financial Activities (900), Private Educational & Health Services (800), Construction (600), Manufacturing (500) and Leisure and Hospitality (100). The Professional & Business Services (-400) sector declined in April. Total non-farm employment increased in April (4,200).
Source: The Indiana Department of Workforce Development