Indiana, regional unemployment rate shows improvement in December
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) reported the state had a 1.3% unemployment rate in December 2021, down from 2.1% the previous month.
According to data released Wednesday, the state had a labor force of more than 3.277 million Hoosiers in December 2021 with more than 3.234 million considered employed.
Briggs: Indiana can help restaurants by letting teens work later.
In November 2021, the state had more than 3.313 million Hoosiers in the labor force with about 3.243 million working.
While the December to November comparison showed improvement, more growth can be seen when comparing the December 2021 numbers to the December 2020 rates.
In December 2020, for example, the state's unemployment rate was 4.4% with a labor force of more than 3.321 million Hoosiers and about 3.175 million being employed.
Across a four-county region of Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan and Owen counties, two had jobless rates below the state average, one had the same rate as the state while the final came in slightly above the 1.3% unemployment average.
Lawrence County
Lawrence County was reported to have the same unemployment rate as the entire state in December 2021 at 1.3%, compared to 2.1% the previous month.
Similarly, it also matched the state's unemployment rate in December 2020 at 4.4%.
Others are reading: First free Narcan box installed in Mitchell at Ruffcut Ministries church.
According to the DWD, in December 2021 there was a labor force of 20,360 in Lawrence County with 20,091 being employed.
Of the state's 92 counties, Lawrence County had the 33rd highest unemployment rate.
Lake County had the highest rate with 2.5%, followed by Howard County at 2.4%.
LaGrange County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state, coming in at 0.7%.
Monroe County
Monroe County, which has the largest labor force in the four-county region, had the lowest unemployment rate of the four counties at 1.0% in December 2021.
Its labor force had 67,864 with 67,185 being employed.
Delta 8 THC: Relief from pain and anxiety or a legal way to get high?
The previous month, Monroe County had a 1.7% unemployment rate while showing a 3.7% average in December 2020.
Monroe County had the 65th highest unemployment rate in Indiana.
Morgan County
Morgan County's unemployment rate in December 2021 came in at 1.1%, down from the previous month's 1.7% and December 2020's 3.4%.
Honoring 'Mr. Radio': Martinsville names street after late WCBK owner Dave Keister.
The state reported a labor force of 35,961 in Morgan County in the final month of 2021, with 35,582 being employed.
Compared to the rest of the state, Morgan County's jobless rate came in at the 46th highest.
Owen County
Over in Owen County, the unemployment rate for December 2021 was slightly above the state's average at 1.4%, compared to a 2.2% rate in November 2021 and 4.6% in December 2020.
Owen County news: Council reneges on court reporter raises.
According to the DWD's numbers, Owen County had a labor force of 8,965 with 8,838 being employed.
Owen County had the 23rd highest unemployment rate in the state.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Three of counties in the region that were looked at are part of metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).
Monroe and Owen counties are part of the Bloomington MSA while Morgan County is part of the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson MSA.
N95 masks: How to get free masks at pharmacies throughout the area.
Overall, the Bloomington MSA had an unemployment rate of 1.0% while the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson MSA showed a 1.2% jobless average.
January’s unemployment data is expected to be released at noon on Tuesday, March 15.
Contact Reporter-Times editor Lance Gideon at lgideon@reporter-times.com or 765-342-1543. Follow him on Twitter: @LanceOGideon.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Indiana, regional unemployment rate shows improvement in December
