Indiana’s unemployment rate dropped to 4% September, down from 4.1% in August.
The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.
The Department of Workforce Development reported Indiana’s labor force had a net decrease of 1,439 in September when compared to August. This was a result of a decrease of 2,595 unemployed residents and an increase of 1,156 employed residents.
Indiana's total labor force, which includes both residents employed and those seeking employment, stood at 3.34 million in September, and the state’s 63% labor force participation rate remained above the national rate of 61.6%.
The state said private sector employment increased by 63,500 over the year and decreased by 300 over the previous month. The monthly decrease is primarily due to losses in the construction (-1,400) and the private educational and health services (-700) sectors. Losses were offset by gains in the manufacturing (1,400) and the professional and business services (900) sectors. Total private employment stood at 2,650,700, which is 89,800 below the state’s December 2019 peak.
