State Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly

Indiana Workforce DevelopmentThe state’s unemployment rate went up a tenth of a percent to 5.8 percent. Since December 2013, Indiana’s labor force has grown by over 83,000 people that is nearly twice of any neighboring state, according to Indiana Workforce Development. December was the first month where Indiana’s unemployment rate has exceeded the U.S. rate. The U.S. rate has declined by two-tenths of a percent to 5.6 percent, mainly due to a decrease of 273,000 in the national labor force.

The lowest point of employment in the state was July of 2009 and Indiana has grown to a total of 267,000 private sector jobs today.

Indiana led the nation in jobs added last year in manufacturing growth as well as the rate of growth. The state ranked fourth in the nation in manufacturing jobs added in December for a total of 1,600.