May 24, 2017
Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.6 percent for April and remains lower than the national rate of 4.4 percent. The unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the labor force. Indiana’s labor force increased by 4,805 over the previous month with a 16,408 increase in employment and an 11,603 decrease in unemployment. Indiana’s total labor force stands at more than 3.32 million, and the state’s 64.6 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 62.9 percent.
Marshall County has an April rate of 2.3 ranking it 70th of the 92 counties. Taking a quick look back, Marshall County had an unemployment rate of 3.2 in March and 4.1 in February.
Taking a look at counties surrounding Marshall you will find Starke County at 14th on the lists of counties with a rate of 3.3 a significant reduction from their March rate of 5.0.
Fulton County’s April rate was 3.1 ranking them 19th on the list. They too had a drop in unemployment from their March rate of 3.9.
Pulaski County had an April rate of 2.9 ranking them 32nd on the list while St. Joseph County continues to see a decline in unemployment. Their April rate was 2.7, down from 3.9 in March.
Kosciusko County and Elkhart County remain at the bottom of the list of 92 counties with amazing unemployment rates. In March Kosciusko County had a rate of 3.0, their April rate was 2.0 making them 89th on the list of counties. Elkhart County had an April rate of 1.9 ranking them 91st on the list. They had a March rate of 2.8 and were ranked 91st.
“Indiana’s unemployment rate reaching its lowest point since 2001 is a testament to the strength of the Hoosier economy; however, it’s also indicative of an ever-tightening labor market for Hoosier businesses,” said Steven J. Braun, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). “I encourage unemployed and underemployed Hoosiers to be steadfast in their job searches and consider training and placement opportunities available at their local WorkOne Career Center.”
Braun noted Indiana’s historically low number of unemployment insurance claims are also a sign of a constricting labor market. He added that while the figures are certainly positive, they do represent a workforce challenge in meeting current employer demand.