Indiana unemployment rises to 4.2% in August
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Indiana’s unemployment rate continued its upward climb in August, rising two-tenths of a percent to 4.2%. Despite the increase, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Friday that the state added nearly 28,000 private sector jobs last month.
August’s unemployment rate marked the fifth consecutive month-over-month increase.
The DWD said Indiana’s total private employment stands at 2,887,100, a new peak for the state. Indiana primarily saw job gains in the manufacturing; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; leisure and hospitality; and private education and health services sectors.
The state’s labor force participation rate rose slightly to 62.7%, which is equal to the national rate. The labor force, which includes residents who are either employed or seeking employment, stands at 3,398,064, up nearly 11,000 from the previous month.
The DWD said the state had 89,103 open job postings as of Sept. 16, while 21,828 continued unemployment insurance claims were filed as of the week ending Aug. 31.
The state’s unemployment rate is equal to the national rate of 4.2%, which was down one-tenth of a percent in August.