A slight drop in the number of people in the state’s workforce likely is the reason behind Indiana’s unemployment rate falling in June when compared to May.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development, citing U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, reported the state’s jobless rate in June was 3.5 percent, down from 3.6 percent in May. The state’s June jobless rate was lower than the national unemployment rate of 3.7 percent.
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 state said.
Indiana’s labor force had a net decrease of 10,126 from the previous month, the state said. This was a result of a decrease of 3,123 unemployed residents and a decrease of 7,003 employed residents.
Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stood at 3.39 million in June, the state said. The state’s 64.8 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 62.9 percent.
The state said private sector employment grew by 37,000 so far this year. Indiana has seen job gains in private educational and health services (5,000) and professional and business services (1,100). Manufacturing lost 700 jobs and construction lost 500 jobs.
