Unemployment rate at 6.1 percent

After hitting a five-year low, the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to start 2014.
Jay County’s jobless rate climbed to 6.1 in January, up from 5.8 in December, according to estimates the Indiana Department of Workforce Development released Monday.
The bump in the unemployment rate was similar to that of surrounding counties with the exception of Blackford County, which saw its number drop by 0.1 percentage points.
In December, Jay County’s unemployment rate fell a full percentage point to 5.8. That was the lowest since hitting the same mark in November 2008.
The rate has been below 7 percent for six consecutive months.
Indiana also saw its unemployment rate go up to 6.6 percent from 6.3 percent. But, according to the department of workforce development, the state led the nation in manufacturing jobs added in January.
Hamilton County took over the top spot in the state this month with an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. Dubois County, led the state in December, was second-best at 4.7.
Vermillion County continues to be the worst in the state by a wide margin at 11 percent. Crawford County has the next highest rate at 9.2.
Jay County again was third-best in the six-county area, trailing Adams (5.8 percent) and Wells (5.9). It tied for 29th-best in the state.
Individual area unemployment rates are as follows:
Adams County: 5.8 percent, up 0.4 percentage points, t-19th lowest.
Blackford County: 7.4 percent, down 0.1 percentage points, t-29th highest.
Delaware County: 7.4 percent, up 0.4 percentage points, t-29th highest.
Jay County: 6.1 percent, up 0.3 percentage points, t-29th lowest.
Randolph County: 7.7, up 0.5 percentage points, t-26th highest.
Wells County: 5.9 percent, up 0.4 percentage points, t-21st lowest.[[In-content Ad]]