The jobless rates across several northern Indiana metro areas increased in July from June.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported the jobless rate in the Elkhart-Goshen area in July was 2.7%, up from 2.4% in June.

In the Gary area, the July jobless rate was 4.8%, up from 4.7% in June. The Michigan City-LaPorte area jobless rate in July was 4.3%, up from 4% in June.

The South Bend-Mishawaka jobless rate in July was 4.2%, up from 3.8% in June.

Indiana’s jobless rate in July was 2.6%, up from 2.4% in June, the state reported.

The U.S. jobless rate fell in July to 3.5%, down from 3.6% in June, the state said.

Indiana’s labor force participation rate increased from 63.1% in June to 63.3% in July, remaining above the national rate of 62.1%, the state said. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both residents employed and those seeking employment, stood at 3,393,968 — an increase of 15,331 from the previous month, the highest level since December 2019.