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Indiana Unemployment Nudges Up In February

Becca Costello
/
WFIU Infogram

Indiana’s unemployment rate increased slightly in February. It's only the second time in more than three years the rate has grown month-to-month. 

Indiana’s private sector added nearly 7,000 jobs last month.

Yet, the unemployment rate climbed a tenth of a percent to 4.7 percent, its highest level since June. 

That’s because 20,000 Hoosiers entered the labor force last month.  The labor force is a measure of not just people with jobs, but also people actively looking for jobs. 

Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Steven Braun says though the unemployment rate ticked up, the state’s labor force growth outpaces the national average and shows growing confidence in the Hoosier economy. 

Indiana’s unemployment rate remains below all neighboring states, as well as the  U.S. average of 4.9 percent.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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