(Indianapolis, Ind.) - For the first time since last March, Indiana’s unemployment rate has fallen into the single digits.

The state added 7,600 private sector jobs in October to help pull the seasonally-adjusted jobless rate to 9.9 percent, down 0.2 from September and even with the rate from October 2009. The U.S. unemployment rate remained stagnant at 9.6 percent last month.

Indiana has gained a total of 49,700 private jobs this year, a 2.1 percent improvement and faster than the national rate of 1.0 percent.

"Since the beginning of the year, we have seen strong growth in several key industries including professional and business services and manufacturing." said Mark. W. Everson, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. "Overall, private sector employment has increased twice as fast in Indiana as the nation."

Most of the private growth was seen in the professional and business services sector with 4,500 new jobs. Construction added 1,900 jobs, followed by 1,700 in private education and health services, and 600 in trade, transportation and utilities.

Sectors seeing the largest losses were leisure and hospitality with 1,000 fewer jobs and government with 800 fewer.

In the southeast Indiana five county region, the lowest October unemployment rate easily went to Switzerland County at 7.0 percent, down from 7.3 percent the same month a year ago.

Ohio County saw unemployment decline from 9.9 percent last year to 9.3 percent last month.

Ripley County was down 0.2 percent and Franklin County was up 0.1 as both counties checked in at 9.6 percent in October.

Dearborn County had the highest unemployment in the area as it rose there to 10.0 percent.

As for Indiana’s neighboring states, Illinois showed 9.8 percent unemployment, Ohio at 9.9, Kentucky with 10.0, and Michigan with 12.8.

Indiana October Unemployment

Data Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development

LINKS:

Indiana Department of Workforce Development - www.in.gov/dwd