Unemployment Rate Drops, Labor Force Ticks Up
The department says the state added more than 11
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowINDIANAPOLIS - The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.0 percent in May. Indiana’s rate remains above the national average of 4.7 percent, but is second-lowest among neighboring states. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says nearly 13,000 Hoosiers found employment last month.
Indiana’s labor force participation rate ticked up 0.1 percent to 65.4 percent, which is nearly three percent higher than the national average. The department says Indiana is continuing its positive momentum with total labor force growth at more than 186,000 since January 2013.
"Indiana’s labor force participation rate is at the highest point since 2009 and continues to outpace the national average," said DWD Commissioner Steven Braun. "Indiana experienced positive gains in employment accompanied by a decrease in unemployment, which suggests that many Hoosier jobseekers, including those joining the workforce for the first time in May, found success in securing gainful employment."
The state added Indiana’s private sector employment growth since July 2009 has surpassed the nation by nearly 1 percent. Indiana’s private sector saw gains in the trade, transportation and utilities sector and financial activities sector. Those gains were offset by losses in professional & business services, leisure & hospitality, manufacturing, and private education & health services, by a total of 8,700 jobs.
The national unemployment rate sits at 4.7 percent. In the Midwest, Michigan is 4.7 percent, Ohio and Kentucky are at 5.1 percent and Illinois is at 6.4 percent.
You can connect to the state’s report by clicking here.