Unemployment is a poor gauge

To the editor:
This week, Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), the state agency that provides unemployment benefits, workforce readiness, data gathering and more, released March 2016 unemployment data, the most recent available.
The release reported the state’s unemployment rate at 5 percent, an increase of 0.3 percent from February according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. What’s often overlooked is what’s actually happening with the state’s employment picture.
Indiana’s labor force grew by 18,000 in March and “Over the past year, Indiana’s labor force has grown by over 88,000 …” according to DWD's release. Since January 2013, Hoosier employment has grown by more than 157,000, doubtless reflecting some seasonal effects, but still robust with 87,000 more Hoosiers employed than the same time last year.
Indiana’s labor participation rate also increased by 0.3 percent, outpacing the nation and suggesting formerly discouraged workers may be reentering the labor force. More than 9,300 Hoosiers are working today than at the same time last year.
According to DWD commissioner Steven J. Braun, “While this influx of workers has an effect on the unemployment rate, the fact that 9,300 more Hoosiers are employed than last month, and over 87,000 more are employed than this time last year, is a testament to Indiana’s strong and growing economy.”
The unambiguous truth is that the unemployment rate by itself is a remarkably poor measure of real employment.
Dick Heupel
Muncie