Unemployment continues downward swing in July

INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — Indiana’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.8% in July, down from the adjusted figure of 11.1% in June. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says the state added more than 40,000 private sector jobs over the previous month as it continues to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state’s unemployment is lower than the national rate, which remained flat at 11.1%.

Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show Indiana’s labor force saw a net decrease of nearly 118,000 over the previous month. The state’s total labor force, which includes Hoosiers who are either employed or seeking employment, stands at 3.31 million for July.

The DWD says the monthly increase in jobs last month was primarily due to gains in the Leisure and Hospitality, and Professional and Business Services sectors. 

The state says total private employment in Indiana stands at just over 2.6 million, which is nearly 148,000 below the January 2019 peak.

While more Hoosiers are still filing for unemployment benefits than normal, the number of initial claims continues to drop. The state says nearly 12,000 initial claims were filed last week, which is lower than the weekly average number in July, but still 475% higher than the same week last year.