Jay Co. rate is 4.4 percent

While Jay County’s unemployment rate has shown a negative trend over the past year, Adams and Wells counties are among the best in the state.
According to estimates Indiana Department of Workforce Development released Monday, Jay County ranked worse than about two-thirds of the state’s counties with an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in September. That’s down 0.3 percentage points since August, but up 0.3 percentage points from the same time last year.
Meanwhile, both Adams and Wells counties came in at 3.2 percent, putting them in a tie for the fourth-lowest rate in Indiana.
Jay County for years had an unemployment rate lower than at least half of the state’s 92 counties, but that trend changed in April 2015. Its rate has been higher than at least half of the state ever since, including being tied with Dearborn, Fulton, Jefferson, Miami and Wayne counties for the 28th highest rate last month.
Adams County has circled back to the same point it was at in September 2015, when it also owned the fourth-lowest rate. This time around it is tied with Wells, Daviess and Decatur counties.
Like the area counties, which all saw unemployment drop in September, the statewide number also saw improvement. It came in at 4.2 percent, a 0.4 percentage point decrease from August. 

“There are still thousands of good-paying positions available for unemployed Hoosiers and help is available at local WorkOne career centers for anyone seeking the right skills to match in-demand jobs,” said state workforce development commissioner Steven J. Braun said in a press release.
Dubois County, which has held or tied for the state’s lowest unemployment rate each month since March, came in at No. 1 with a rate of 3 percent.
Hamilton and Bartholomew counties were tied for second at 3.1 percent.
Lake County’s unemployment rate came in a 6.0 percent, highest in the state.
Greene County was next at 5.9 percent.
Area unemployment rates are as follows:
Adams County: 3.2 percent, down 0.6 percentage points, t-fourth lowest.
Blackford County: 5.1 percent, down 0.7 percentage points, t-ninth highest.
Delaware County: 4.9 percent, down 0.7 percentage points, t-15th highest.
Jay County: 4.4 percent, down 0.3 percentage points, 28th highest.
Randolph County: 4.1 percent, down 0.4 percentage points, t-41st highest.
Wells County: 3.2 percent, down 0.4 percentage points, t-fourth lowest.