Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
Indiana had the lowest unemployment rate of its neighboring states in April and posted a rate below the national jobless rate.
The Hoosier state’s rate of 3% seasonally adjusted unemployment was below the US unemployment rate of 3.4%. Nearby states recorded the following rates: Illinois – 4.2%, Kentucky and Ohio – 3.7% and Michigan – 3.8%.
A total of 17 states had rates lower than the US rate.
South Dakota (1.9%) had the lowest rate and Nevada (5.4 %) the highest.
According to the Labor Market Review for April from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Indiana’s labor force (16 and older) totaled 3.4 million; nearly 2 million (16 and older) were not in the labor force.
Of those in the labor force, 3.3 million were employed and 104,245 were unemployed and seeking work. Among Hoosiers not in the labor force, 96,300 wanted a job but were not actively seeking one and 16,400 wanted a job and able to work now. The number of potential workers (jobless and wanting a job + out of the labor force) in the state totaled 120,645.
In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate increased to 63.6% for April, remaining above the national rate of 62.6%.
Private sector employment in Indiana increased by 14,200 jobs over the last month, translating to a gain of 76,500 jobs from this time last year. Indiana’s April private employment stands at 2,845,100. This is a new private employment peak for the state. Industries that experienced job increases in April included:
- Private Educational and Health Services (+4,100);
- Leisure and Hospitality (+3,800);
- Professional and Business Services (+3,500);
- Financial Activities (+1,500);
- Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,300); and
- Manufacturing (+300).
As of May 17, there were 126,185 open job postings throughout the state.
In Region 8, which includes five counties from the Radius Indiana region, the largest number of claims filed by industry was construction (20.9%), manufacturing (13.5%), wholesale trade (10.9%), administrative, support, waste management and remediation services (7.4%) and retail (6.8%).
The most in-demand jobs as determined by job listings were in health care with nursing and health and social services filling the top five listings of 20 jobs most needed by employers.
Here’s a look at the Radius Indiana counties
Crawford – 2.8%: Crawford County reported 134 residents looking for work and a labor force of 4,786.
Daviess – 1.9%: In April, a total of 16,609 were employed and 308 were looking for work. In March, the jobless rate was 2.5%. Daviess was one of just three counties with a jobless rate below 2%
Dubois – 2.0%: The Dubois County workforce numbered 21,777 in April. There were 438 residents looking for work. In March, the jobless rate was 2.7%.
Greene – 3.1%: A total of 13,518 residents were employed in April and 420 were looking for work. In March, Greene County’s jobless rate was 4.2%.
Lawrence – 3.1%: The Lawrence County workforce totaled 20,466 in April with 630 looking for work. The March jobless rate was 4.3%.
Martin – 2.4%: A total of 129 residents were looking for work in April. Martin County reported 5,340 in the workforce. The March unemployment rate was 3%.
Orange – 2.7%: 8,152 7,935 217 Orange County saw its jobless rate improve in April; in March the jobless rate was 4%. With 8,152 residents employed, the county reported 217 residents looking for jobs.
Washington – 2.4%: Washington County reported 13,769 residents in the workforce and 326 looking for work. In March, the jobless rate was 3.2%.