Starke County’s unemployment numbers rose in February to 9.1 percent which now ranks the county 8th in the state.
The state rate is 6.1 percent which is down .3 percent for February.
Eighty-seven counties rose in unemployment in February, including all of the surrounding counties. Pulaski County was up .4 percent to 6.2 percent unemployment, Marshall County rose to 7.2 percent and LaPorte County rose to 9.4 percent and is now ranked third in the state in terms of unemployment.
Fulton County is up to 7.8 percent unemployment, St. Joseph County is at 7.5 percent and Porter County is 7.5 percent.
In the past year, Indiana’s unemployment rate declined 1.8 percent which is the 4th largest decrease in the nation. There are over 30,000 more Indiana residents in the labor force than in March of 2000. The number of unemployed Hoosiers was nearly half of what it was in July 2009, the low point of unemployment in the state.
Indiana ranks 3rd in the nation in manufacturing jobs added over the past year.
