(INDIANAPOLIS) – Indiana saw their statewide unemployment rate go up slightly from July to August.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says the August unemployment rate was 3.4%, up from 3.3% in July. The State’s labor force participation rate moved down from 63.6% to 63.5% for August, remaining above the national rate of 62.8%. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3,429,353, a decrease of 714 from the previous month.
DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk says the number of Hoosiers in the labor force remains near an all time high, and the need for skilled workers has never been greater.
Private sector employment in Indiana decreased by 4,400 jobs over the last month, resulting in a gain of 45,800 jobs from this time last year. Indiana's August private employment stands at 2,843,100.
Industries that experienced job increases in August included construction, which had 1,300 job added over the month, and manufacturing, which increased by 400 jobs.