Indiana Jobless Rate Continues to Decrease Slowly
According to the Department of Workforce Development, Indiana added 1,700 private sector jobs in February, continuing a recent trend of increases. The state has experienced private sector job growth for 20 of the last 25 months.
February’s gains were concentrated in the private, education and health services, leisure and hospitality and manufacturing sectors. Private sector employment in the state has grown by 98,700 over the last two years. Since the low point of employment in July 2009, 268,400 total private sector jobs have been added.
Indiana’s unemployment rate also declined by 0.1 percent to 5.9 percent in February. Unemployment in the state is down by 2.4 percent over the past two years, with the labor force growing by 82,000 individuals. Indiana’s labor force participation continues to be higher than the national average, exceeding the rest of the country for 11 months in a row.
“Indiana’s consistent private sector growth, particularly over the past two years, is an encouraging trend,” said Steven J. Braun, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. “Equally as important is the fact that during that time, our labor force has also grown by 82,000 individuals, which is one of the largest increases in the nation. Hoosiers, encouraged by the availability of good jobs, are reengaging in the workforce.”