Ind. jobless rate gives little comfort to unemployed

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The unemployment rate in Indiana went down in September according to figures released Wednesday by the federal government.

It’s one of 19 states where the job picture improved. The new unemployment number in Indiana is 9.6%. That's down from 9.9% in August and a drop of more than a percentage point from the unemployment rate in July which was 10.7%.

But, if you're unemployed and looking for work it provides little comfort.

24-Hour News 8 found Diane Kobylinski standing in a long line at a job fair at a west side hotel.

"It's almost like a one stop sales call cause I am selling myself and my services," said Kobylinski, "And I can meet with at least, hopefully, 20 or more employers."

Out of work for eight weeks, the former employee of the Columbia Club is eager for the opportunity to meet employers face to face. She's aware that the job market in Indiana has gotten better in each of the last three months.

That causes Marc Lotter of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to say, "We're seeing something that could be a trend and it's very encouraging."

Yet Diane Kobylinski finds fewer than a dozen employers at the job fair and not many jobs that fit her skills. Even so, organizer Rebecka Lyman estimates that Kobylinski is one of some 900 job seekers in attendance.

Some people will get hired as a result of this job fair, but more remain on the list of unemployed. Kobylinski heads for home hopeful that the economy will continue to improve.

"Frankly," she said, "I'm a bit disappointed that there weren't more employers here."