Unemployment Rate Falls To 6.4 Percent In Indiana

Indiana's unemployment rate finally fell to 6.4 percent in August, down from 7.8 percent in July and the stratospheric high of 16.9 percent during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in April.

The Hoosier state's jobless rate was below the national rate of 8.4 percent, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Indiana's labor force — the number of people employed or actively seeking work — grew by 41,752 in August. That's the result of an increase of 88,445 employed residents and a decrease of 46,693 unemployed residents statewide.

An estimated 3.36 million people, or 63.5 percent of the Hoosier state's population, are participating in the workforce. That's higher than the national rate of 61.7 percent of labor force participation, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Private sector employment in Indiana increased by 32,700 in August as compared to July but remains down by 103,000 so far this year, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that ground much of the economy to a halt while stay-at-home orders were in effect.

Check out the full article from The Times of Northwest Indiana here.