Though Indiana’s unemployment rate dropped for the first time since April, the state lost several thousand jobs last month. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, September’s state jobless rate was 8.2 percent, down 0.1 percent from August. Despite that drop, however, Indiana lost 6000 private sector jobs last month, the first significant drop in almost a year.
More people were looking for work last month, as the civilian labor force rose by 1500; however, the state’s labor force is down by roughly 56,000 people since this time last year. The number of people without jobs dropped by 3600 in September.
Starke County’s unemployment rate is down 0.8 percent at 8.9 percent, ranking it 11th in the state for unemployment. Sullivan County has the highest unemployment rate at 10.9 percent, followed by Vermillion County at 10.3. Fayette County comes in third at 10 percent and Lawrence follows at 9.8, while Clay, Miami, and Wayne counties are tied for fifth at 9.3 percent.
Pulaski County’s unemployment rate dropped by 0.7 percent to 6.1 percent, ranking it 81st in the state. Marshall County came in at 7.8 percent for September, down 0.3 percent, ranking 34th. LaPorte County’s unemployment rate dropped by 0.9 percent to 8.8 percent, ranking 14th.
