Indiana’s unemployment rate in December stands at 3.1%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. By comparison, the national unemployment rate for December stands at 3.5%.
Elkhart County’s jobless rate dropped three-tenths of a point from November to 2.8 percent. St. Joseph County’s rate dropped four-tenths of a point to 2.9 percent from the month before.
Indiana’s labor force participation rate held at 63.2% for December, remaining above the national rate of 62.3%. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3,398,408 – an increase of 3,369 from the previous month.
Private sector employment in Indiana decreased by 4,600 jobs over the last month, translating to a gain of 54,200 jobs from this time last year. Indiana’s December private employment stands at 2,784,500. Industries that experienced job increases in December included:
- Trade, Transportation and Health Services (+900)
- Manufacturing (+600)
- Construction (+300)
- Financial Activities (+100)
As of Jan. 17, 2023, there were 128,198 open job postings throughout the state. In December, 21,773 people in Indiana received unemployment benefits.