04/20/11 Indiana’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percent, to 8.5 percent in March. Indiana’s rate is below the national average of 8.8 percent and below that of all neighboring states for the second month in a row. In addition, the state added 9,700 jobs in March.
“We haven’t seen the unemployment rate drop by 1 percent in a quarter since 1993,” said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “We also saw solid job growth in March, particularly in the manufacturing sector.”
Marshall County continues to have a drop in the unemployment rate. In March the rate dropped to 10 ranking us 26th in the state. The previous months were February at 10.6 ranked 31st and January at 11.1 ranked 26th.
Looking at counties surrounding Marshall County you’ll find Starke County 10th with a rate of 11.2, Elkhart 11th with a rate of 11, LaPorte 19th with a rate of 10.6 then Marshall County 26th with a rate of 10, followed by Saint Joseph 33rd with a rate of 9.8, Fulton County 39th with a rate of 9.6, and Kosciusko 69th with a rate of 8.2. Fayette County tops the list with a rate of 12.5 and Daviess County is 92nd on the list with a rate of 5.3.
Sectors showing significant employment gains in March include: Manufacturing (5,200), Leisure and Hospitality (3,000), Private Education and Health Services (1,900) and Financial Activities (1,800). The Professional and Business Services (-2,200) sector showed a significant decline. Total non-farm employment increased (10,000) in March.
Midwest Employment Picture
| March 2010 | Feb 2011 |
March 2011 |
Monthly Change |
|
| Indiana | 10.6% | 8.8% | 8.5% | -0.3% |
| U.S. | 9.7% | 8.9% | 8.8% | -0.1% |
| Illinois | 11.0% | 8.9% | 8.8% | -0.1% |
| Kentucky | 10.8% | 10.4% | 10.2% | -0.2% |
| Michigan | 13.3% | 10.4% | 10.3% | -0.1% |
| Ohio | 10.5% | 9.2% | 8.9% | -0.3% |
