Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December is 4.9 percent, five-tenths of a percentage point below the national rate of 5.4 percent, Alan Degner, commissioner for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, announced today. The number of Hoosiers employed during December 2003 was 3,031,400.
Indiana's December unemployment rate was lower than Illinois, 6.3 percent; Michigan, 6.7 percent; Ohio, 5.5 percent; and Kentucky at 5.1 percent.
"We continue to see Indiana's unemployment rate remain relatively low, especially when compared to our neighboring states," said Degner. "While no one industrial sector stood out as having seen a substantial decline in jobs from November, several did make small adjustments. And many of those are likely to be temporary seasonal layoffs that happen every year at this time."
The monthly survey of 7,500 Hoosier employers reports payroll employment at 2,900,900, a decrease of 8,300 from one year ago and 1,700 less than last month. Payroll employment is an estimate of non-agricultural jobs in Indiana businesses. It differs from labor force employment, which is used in the calculation of the unemployment rate by not including the self-employed and agricultural workers. In addition, payroll employment includes all those who work in Indiana, while the unemployment rate is calculated by those who live in Indiana.
Manufacturing employment totaled 574,800 in December, a decrease of 11,800 from last year. Motor vehicle manufacturing accounts for 13,600 jobs, 500 more than one year ago. Manufacturing of motor vehicle parts totaled 78,000. Machinery manufacturing in December accounted for 44,000 Hoosier jobs, 500 more than November.
Construction employment totaled 147,200 a decrease of 2,000 from November. Of that, heavy construction reported 17,200 jobs, 1,200 less than November.
Service-producing employment totaled 2,171,800 in December, 8,400 less than last year. Transportation and public utilities totaled 119,800, 800 less than November.
Retail trade total 351,000, 700 less than a year ago. Of that, general merchandise stores reported employment of 80,900, or 2,500 less than last year.
Indiana's estimated labor force (the number of people 16 years of age and older who are able and available for work) totaled 3,188,100 in December 2003. An estimated 3,031,400 Hoosiers are employed and 156,700 are unemployed.
