Indiana’s unemployment rate has remained unchanged for four straight months.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data, reported Jan. 24 that the state’s jobless rate in December was 3.2% where it has been since September. The state’s jobless also is lower than the national rate of 3.5%.

The monthly unemployment rate is a federal indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.

Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 1,948 in December from November. This state said that was a result of a decrease of three unemployed residents and an increase of 1,951 employed residents.

Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stood at 3.38 million. The state’s 64.4% labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.2%.

The state said private sector employment has decreased by 500 during the year and by more than 900 from the previous month.

The monthly decrease is primarily due to losses in leisure and hospitality (-1,600) and the private educational and health services (-900) sectors, the state said. Losses were partially offset by gains in the trade, transportation and utilities (2,100) and the construction (1,400) sectors.

Total private employment stood at 2,731,600 in December, which was 500 below the December 2018 peak.