Indiana unemployment rate falls in June

INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — Indiana’s unemployment rate dropped to 11.2% in June. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says the state added nearly 130,000 private sector jobs over the previous month as the state continues to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state’s unemployment rate is slightly higher than the national rate of 11.1%.

Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show Indiana’s labor force saw a net increase of more than 53,000 over the previous month. The state’s total labor force, which includes Hoosiers who are either employed or seeking employment, stands at 3.39 million for June.

The DWD says the monthly increase in jobs last month was mainly due to gains in the Leisure and Hospitality; Manufacturing; and Private Education and Health Services sectors.

The state says total private employment in Indiana stands at just under 2.6 million, which is nearly 200,000 below the January 2019 peak.

A high number of Hoosiers are still filing for unemployment. The state says more than 29,000 initial unemployment claims were filed last week, which is lower than the average weekly number in June, but still 723% higher than the same week last year.