April 2008 Indiana Employment Report

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in April and is now three-tenths of a percentage point below the national rate, which is at 5.0 percent, according to the monthly employment report released today by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Indiana’s rate remains below all its neighboring states. For the month of April, Indiana’s Midwest neighbors reported the following unemployment rates: Kentucky, 5.6 percent; Illinois, 5.4 percent; Ohio, 5.6 percent; and Michigan, 6.9 percent. 

“Even though we’re still feeling the effects of the American Axle strike in Indiana, our unemployment rate went down in April, as we expected, with the start of more construction work. Once the strike is settled, our rate should stabilize even more,” said Teresa Voors, commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development.

Employment Report Highlights (Local Area Unemployment Statistics – LAUS)

Seasonally Adjusted. According to the monthly LAUS household survey, the number of people estimated to be employed in Indiana is now 3,065,638, and the number estimated to be unemployed is 152,852. The state’s labor force in April was 3,218,490 and is up nearly 6,000 from one year ago.

Non-Seasonally Adjusted. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, Indiana’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.7 percent in April. Nationally, the rate decreased to 4.8 percent in April. Other surrounding states’ non-seasonally adjusted rates for April were Illinois at 5.4 percent, Kentucky at 5.5 percent, Michigan at 6.6 percent and Ohio at 5.5 percent.

      Jobs Report Highlights (Current Employment Statistics – CES)

April total non-farm employment in the state decreased 3,100 from March but was up 2,800 from one year ago. It is up 41,600 from January 2005, according to the monthly payroll survey. Indiana’s employment grew modestly over the year on the strength of hiring in the education and health services and government sectors.  Construction employment rebounded from last month as expected while the service providing sectors produced offsetting gains and losses. A continued weakness in manufacturing pushed the non-farm payrolls lower in April.  

The top three Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) with the greatest growth in jobs from last month are Indianapolis, up 9,200, Gary, up 3,200 and Fort Wayne, up 2,200.  The top three MSA’s experiencing the greatest growth over the last twelve months are Indianapolis-Carmel, up 8,000, Evansville, up 3,600, and Bloomington, up 1,200.

The Department recommends looking at these employment trends and data on a long-term basis.

Data Links.  Here are links to the data that comprise the monthly employment report:

Employment Report (LAUS)

• Labor Force Estimates for U.S., Indiana, MSAs, Counties, Cities
• Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate
• Indiana County Map with Unemployment Rates

Jobs Report (CES)

• Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Non-Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana

·         Detail Employment Listing – Statewide & MSAs

           Indiana, National Unemployment Rates – April 2008

Non-Seasonally Adjusted Employment, by MSA

Note: the data for the Anderson, Columbus, Kokomo, and Michigan City MSA’s are unofficial/non-BLS area estimates.  BLS funding for these areas was suspended for 2008 but Indiana will continue to estimate. 

Indiana Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Midwest States Unemployment Rate Trend, Seasonally Adjusted

      The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is charged with continually improving the Hoosier workforce by assisting companies to create new jobs and improve employee skills. The agency offers a variety of training and educational grants, partners with Indiana’s 35 WorkOne Centers and 50 WorkOne Express Centers, administers the unemployment insurance system, provides labor market information, assists employers with preparing workers for layoffs and closures and operates a statewide job placement service.

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