(Aurora, Ind.) - New employment numbers show Indiana gained 3,000 jobs last month.

Data Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Despite the gain, the state’s unemployment stubbornly held at 10.2 percent in August according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, where officials say the private sector gains are a sign of good things to come.

"Indiana is adding private sector jobs three-and-a-half times faster than the U.S. as a whole.  Combined with new unemployment claims declining to levels not seen since 2007, we expect to see a drop in our unemployment rate in the coming months," said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of the DWD.

Sectors reporting significant employment gains include: Professional and Business Services (5,100), Private Education and Health (3,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (500). Declines in Manufacturing (-4,100) and Government (-9,400) are considered seasonally-adjusted anomalies due to the timing of the automotive sector's traditional summer shutdown and when school resumed. Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-1,200) and Construction (-900) also reported a slight decline. Total non-farm employment decreased (-6,400).

Among its neighbors, Indiana fell behind every state but Michigan where the jobless rate was 13.1 percent in August. Kentucky had 10.0 percent unemployment, followed by Ohio and Illinois both at 10.1.

The national rate was 9.6 percent.

Locally, Dearborn County had 10.8 percent unemployment which was the southeast Indiana area’s highest. The lowest went to Switzerland County at 7.7 percent.

Local Non-Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment

Data Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development