INDIANAPOLIS (April 21, 2017) – Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.9 percent for March and remains lower than the national rate of 4.5 percent.
The unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the labor force. Indiana’s Labor Force increased by 6,093 over the previous month with a 12,322 increase in employment and a 6,229 decrease in unemployment. Indiana’s total labor force stands at more than 3.32 million, and the state’s 64.5 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.0 percent.
“Indiana’s unemployment rate continues to drop, and the 3.9 percent rate for March is the lowest it’s been since 2001,” said Steven J. Braun, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). “While this is a positive economic indicator, there are thousands of good-paying jobs currently available in Indiana that require in-demand skills. Fortunately, our local WorkOne Career Centers can help unemployed and underemployed Hoosiers with training programs, interview coaching, veteran services and more.”
Commissioner Braun also noted private sector employment has grown by more than 39,300 over the year. He added that weekly unemployment insurance claims remain at the lowest point in three decades.
SOURCE: Indiana Department of Workforce Development