Inside INdiana Business is reporting that Indiana’s unemployment rate rose slightly in August to 3.5 percent, up from 3.4 percent the previous month. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says the state’s labor force grew by more than 11,000 last month and the labor force participation rate saw a minor increase to 65 percent, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Indiana added more than 3,600 private sector jobs in August, mainly due to gains in the financial activities and construction sectors. Those gains were offset by losses in the manufacturing, mining and logging, IT, and other sectors. Over the past year, private sector employment has grown by more than 27,600.
The state’s unemployment rate has grown by 0.3 percent since June. Despite the increase, Indiana continues be below the national rate of 3.9 percent and have the lowest unemployment of the surrounding states, all of which are above 4 percent. Only Minnesota and Wisconsin have lower unemployment in the Midwest at 2.9 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
You can connect to more about Indiana’s unemployment rate from the Department of Workforce Development by clicking here.