Jay unemployment stays at 4.1 percent

While some counties saw unemployment increases in November, Jay County stayed stable.

The local unemployment rate came in at 4.1 percent for the second consecutive month, according to Indiana Department of Workforce Development estimates released Monday. The numbers are based on a national survey of businesses and government agencies.

While Jay County’s rate came in the same as the previous month, it was down significantly a year ago. The November 2015 unemployment mark in Jay County was 4.7 percent.

Still, the county recorded a higher rate than more than half of the state’s 92 counties, tying for 31st highest with Clay, Fulton, Howard, Jennings, Miami and Pike counties.

Adams and Wells counties were standouts once again, with the former tying with Hamilton County for the third-lowest rate in the state at 3.0 percent. Dubois and Bartholomew counties were tied for first at 2.9 percent, and Wells County came in tied for fifth with Decatur and Boone counties at 3.1 percent.

Indiana’s rate, like Jay County’s, was unchanged over the last month. It came in at 3.9 percent.

State workforce development commissioner Steve J. Braun emphasized the need for worker education in order to keep unemployment low, something Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley also focused on during his state of the local economy address last month.

“In order for Indiana to remain one of the most appealing states for business in the nation, it is critical that DWD engages and trains potential workers not actively participating in Indiana’s workforce in order to meet employers’ current and future demand for skilled workers,” Braun said in a press release.

While Adams and Wells counties came in among the lowest unemployment rates, Blackford (tie-10th) and Delaware (tie-14th) counties were among the highest at 4.8 and 4.6 percent respectively. Greene and Lake counties were tied for the highest rate for the second month in a row at 5.4 percent.

Area unemployment rates are as follows:

Adams County: 3.0 percent, no change, t-third lowest.

Blackford County: 4.8 percent, up 0.3 percentage points, t-10th highest.

Delaware County: 4.6 percent, no change, t-14th highest.

Jay County: 4.1 percent, no change, t-31st highest.

Randolph County: 3.9 percent, up 0.2 percentage points, t-44th lowest.

Wells County: 3.1 percent, up 0.1 percentage points, t-fifth lowest.