County by county unemployment numbers for the month of August have been released and despite an increase of 2 tenths of a percent, Dubois County once again shares the top spot with the state’s lowest unemployment mark.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says the county’s rate of those out of work last month came in at 2.8 percent up from 2.6 percent the month before. They are in a three way tie for first with both Bartholomew and LaGrange Counties.
Statewide, Indiana’s unemployment rate edged higher in August from July with a rate of 3.5 percent, up from 3.4 percent in July.
The state’s rate remained below the national rate of 3.9 percent. With the exception of October 2014, when it was equal to the national rate, the state’s unemployment rate has been below the U.S. rate for more than four years.
Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of more than 11,000 over the previous month, which was a result of nearly 2,600 unemployed residents no longer seeking employment and a nearly 8,500 increase in residents employed. The state says Indiana’s total labor force is about 3.4 million.
Locally as we mentioned Dubois County despite an increase of 2 tenths of a percent is in a three-way tie with the state’s lowest unemployment mark at 2.8.
Martin County saw an increase of 2 tenths of a percent to an even 3 percent. Daviess increased 4 tenths to 3.2 percent. Warrick increased 3 tenths to 3.3 percent, Pike jumped 3 tenths to 3.7, Spencer is also sitting at 3.7 percent after and increase of 6 tenths of a percent. Perry County is up 4 tenths to 4.1 percent, Orange is up 2 to an even 4 percent and Crawford County’s August rate for the second straight month held steady at 4.2 percent.
Vermillion County north of Terre Haute once again had the state highest unemployment rate last month at 5.9 percent.
