Indiana Unemployment Remains at Over Decade-Low Rate

The department says the state added more than 11

The Indiana unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4 percent in November. The Department of Workforce Development says the private sector added 3,400 jobs last month. The rate remains at its lowest level since August 2001.

The industries leading the charge include construction and trade with 2,800 jobs added and trade, transportation and utilities, which picked up 2,500 jobs last month. Manufacturing, which helped drive last month’s high performance, decreased by 3,300.

DWD Commissioner Steven Braun says "Indiana continues to lead the Midwest in labor force growth by a significant amount." More than 7,000 joined the labor force in November. The state’s 63.7 percent participation rate is above the national average and has been for nineteen straight months.

Other sectors that grew include: leisure and hospitality, 1,400 jobs, professional and business services, 400 jobs, and financial activities, 100 jobs. In addition to manufacturing, the private educational and health services sectors lost jobs month-to-month. Total nonfarm employment was up 4,000 in November.

Indiana’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the region and 0.6 percent below the national average.

Indiana- 4.4 percent
Ohio- 4.5 percent
Kentucky- 4.9 percent
Michigan- 5.1 percent
Illinois- 5.7 percent

The data come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.