Inside INdiana Business is reporting Indiana’s unemployment rate increased to 3.8 percent in September, up from 3.5 percent the previous month. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says the state added 8,200 jobs last month and the unemployment rate remains below the national average of 4.2 percent. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show the Indiana labor force has increased by more than 6,100 in September.
The state’s unemployment rate has risen 0.8 percent since June. However, the DWD says the figure has been below the national average for four full years, with the exception of one month in 2015 when it equaled the national rate.
Indiana’s labor force stands at nearly 3.34 million. The state’s 64.5 percent labor force participation rate remains higher than the national rate of 63.1 percent.
The highest growth sectors for Indiana in September were trade, transportation and utilities, and leisure and hospitality. The DWD says Indiana’s total private employment stands at 16,800 above the November 2016 peak.
Indiana has the lowest unemployment rate of the neighboring states. Only Minnesota and Wisconsin have lower unemployment in the Midwest.