Indiana’s February 2023 Employment Report

Indiana’s unemployment rate in February stands at 3.1%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. By comparison, the national unemployment rate for February stands at 3.6%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate held at 63.4% for February, remaining above the national rate of 62.5%. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3,409,528 - an increase of 427 from the previous month.

Marshall County’s February 2023 unemployment rate was 3.7% ranking the county 34th of the 92 counties.  Last month the county’s unemployment rate was 3.9% and we were ranked 18th.

Looking over the last few years, Marshall County’s unemployment rate for 2022 was 2.1% while the 2021 rate was 3.9%. In 2020 unemployment was 2.7% and in 2019 it was 4.0%.   Rounding out the last 5 years, Marshall County’s unemployment rate in 2018 was 3.5%.

Looking at the counties surrounding Marshall County you will find Starke County 4th on the list of counties with an unemployment rate of 4.9% immediately followed by LaPorte County with a rate of 4.7%. Fulton County is ranked 14th with an unemployment rate of 4.3% and St. Joseph County isn’t too far behind at 21st with a rate of 4.1%.    Elkhart County was 4th on the list of counties in January with a rate of 4.9% but dropped to 30th on the list of counties in February with a rate of 3.8%.  Kosciusko County is 48th on the list with a rate of 3.4% a huge improvement from their 12th place ranking in January with a rate of 4.2%.

Howard County has the first place ranking for February unemployment with a rate of 5.4% and Gibson County is at the bottom of the list with a rate of 2.4%.   

Private sector employment in Indiana increased by 3,100 jobs over the last month, translating to a gain of 72,900 jobs from this time last year. Indiana's February private employment stands at 2,827,300. This is a new private employment peak for Indiana. Industries that experienced job increases in February included:

·       Professional and Business Services (+3,600);

·       Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500); and

·       Private Educational and Health Services (+1,200);

As of March 16, 2023, there were 135,336 open job postings throughout the state. In February, 19,485 unemployment insurance claims were filed in Indiana.

Individuals looking for work, training or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.