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’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.0 percent in December, down 0.2 percent from the previous month. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says, despite the dip, the state saw a loss of 6,000 private sector jobs.
The DWD says Indiana’s labor force increased by more than 28,000 last month and remains at over 3.3 million. The state’s labor force participation rate is 64.3 percent, nearly two percent higher than the national rate.
"Indiana has experienced workforce growth in nearly all measurable areas during 2016; however, we still have work to do to reach our workforce potential as a state," said DWD Commissioner Steven Braun. "Moving forward, it is essential for Indiana to develop and expand programs that equip Hoosiers with the skills necessary to fill the thousands of open positions available today and the one million jobs projected to be available over the next decade."
The highest growth sectors for Indiana in December were manufacturing and construction. Sectors including professional and business services, trade, transportation and utilities, financial activities, leisure and hospitality and all others reported losses.
The DWD says the state’s unemployment rate remains at its lowest point since 2001. Indiana remains below the national average of 4.7 percent and has the lowest unemployment rate of the surrounding states, with Kentucky at 4.8 percent.