The number of unemployment claims filed by Hoosiers in May fell from the previous month and is at its lowest level in 2019, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Unemployment claims last month dropped to 14,296 from 17,914 in April, representing a 20 percent decline, the state said.
Since unemployment filings hit a high February (23,992), the amount has fallen 40 percent.
“Unemployment claims typically fall as seasonal hiring increases during the spring and summer months, but the smaller amount of claims in May is especially positive, as overall unemployment in Indiana continues to remain low,” said Fran Valentine, DWD’s senior director of research, analysis and engagement.
DWD recently reported the state’s unemployment rate in May of 3.6 percent remained unchanged from the past two months, and stands even with the national rate. Year-over-year, Indiana’s unemployment rate has remained flat, increasing by just 0.1 percentage point, the state said.
Indiana’s jobless rate has decreased seven percentage points since July 2009—the high point of unemployment in Indiana. Total private employment stands at 2,742,100, which is 10,000 above the December 2018 peak, the state said.
Indiana’s 65 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 62.8 percent.
The state's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, was 3.4 million in May.
