Indiana unemployment rate below the national rate in August

INDIANAPOLIS (WTWO/WAWV)— The unemployment rate in Indiana in the month of August was 3.6% which is 0.7% below the national rate.

This information comes from a news release sent by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The national rate for unemployment in August was 4.3%. Indiana’s labor force participation rate was also listed at 63.6% which is also higher than the national rate by 0.7% The labor force participation rate is the percentage of Hoosiers 16 and older who are working or looking for work. The main groups not counted in this number include students, retirees, and other non-working populations, like those with disability, illnesses, or those taking care of children full-time.

According to the release, Indiana’s total labor force currently stands at 3,489,209, with total private employment at 2,856,500, which is an increase of 3,900 from July. The industries that experienced the most growth are trade, transportation, and health services by 2,400, Private Educational and Health Services by 1,700, leisure and hospitality by 1,300, and construction by 700.

The release continues, stating that as of the first of this month, there were 84,240 open job postings through the state, and as of September 6, Indiana had 19,393 continued unemployment insurance claims filed.

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