Unemployment Rises In SEI

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - New unemployment figures are out for Indiana, showing the state’s jobless rate dropped to 8.7 percent in January.

But, unemployment was up significantly in southeast Indiana according to the January 2012 Employment Report from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Dearborn County went from under eight percent unemployment in December to 10.1 percent in January.

Franklin County was up to 10.7, the highest in the area. Ohio County was up to 9.6 while Ripley County rose to 10.4 percent. Switzerland County had the region’s lowest unemployment at 7.1 percent.

Statewide, the non-seasonally adjusted rate fell to 8.7 percent, outpacing the national rate of 8.9 percent in January.

Indiana added 13,000 private sector jobs during the month, the largest monthly increase in over a year.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics revised Indiana’s 2011 job growth. The department originally reported that the state added 27,000 private sector jobs, but revised the figure upwards by 60 percent to 43,100.

 “January was a strong month for Indiana with excellent job creation. The new numbers from BLS show job growth in Indiana has been much better than the feds have been letting on. It turns out private employment in Indiana has grown by 4.9 percent since the bottom in 2009, well above national growth of 3.2 percent.” said DWD commissioner Mark W. Everson.

“Revised figures also reinforce a sharp contrast between Indiana and our neighboring states, whose labor forces continue to shrink. Hoosiers are encouraged that employment opportunities are available and are returning to the labor force to work or look for work.”

The sectors adding the most jobs in January were Professional and Business Services (6,400),Trade, Transportation & Utilities (3,700), and Manufacturing (2,400). The Financial Activities (-1,500) sector showed significant decline.

COUNTY

JANUARY 2012

DECEMBER 2011

JANUARY 2011

Dearborn

10.1

7.9

10.3

Franklin

10.7

8.8

11.9

Ohio

9.6

7.6

10.7

Ripley

10.4

9.5

11.0

Switzerland

7.1

6.8

7.6

Indiana (seasonally adjusted)

8.8

8.9

9.0

   Data Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development