Indiana Unemployment Rate Up a Tick

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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 has risen slightly to 3.3 percent. The June report released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development shows the labor force increased by nearly 15,000, compared to figures released a month ago. Private sector employment decreased by 2,500 from May to June, but the state says Indiana’s labor force participation rate — 64.6 percent — is still greater than the national average of 62.9 percent.
The private educational and health services sector and "other" sector, which includes mining and logging and information technology jobs among others, drove the slight dip with a combined loss of 4,700 jobs in the June report. The manufacturing and financial activities sectors served as an offset, adding some 2,500 jobs during the month. Private sector employment in Indiana is just under 2.7 million, which is more than 10,000 jobs higher than peak employment in December 2017.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers show Indiana has the third-lowest unemployment rate among states in the Midwest. Wisconsin, as 2.9 percent, remains the lowest and Minnesota is the second-lowest at 3.1 percent. Fourth is Kentucky at 4.2 percent, followed by Illinois at 4.3 percent and Ohio and Michigan tied for sixth at 4.5 percent. The U.S. average in June rose to 4 percent, up from 3.8 percent in May.
You can connect to more about Indiana’s unemployment picture by clicking here.