Jay unemployment rate stays at 4.1 percent

For the first time since April, Jay County got the better of its neighbor to the south in the state’s unemployment rankings.

Jay County’s unemployment rate stayed unchanged — 4.1 percent — for the third consecutive month in December according to Indiana Department of Workforce Development estimates released Monday. The numbers are based on a national survey of businesses and government agencies.

That ended a streak of eight consecutive months in which it had a higher rate than Randolph County, which came in at 4.4 percent in December.

It was a strong month for Jay County, which was the only one in the area that did not see an increase in its rate from November. 

Jay County’s rate was also 0.6 percentage points lower than at the same time in the previous year.

The state’s rate ticked up slightly to 4 percent after sitting at 3.9 percent in November.

Steven J. Braun, the state’s workforce development commissioner, continued to emphasize the need to expand Indiana’s workforce.

“Indiana has experienced workforce growth in nearly all measurable areas during 2016; however, we still have work to do to reach our workforce potential as a state,” he said in a press release. “Moving forward, it is essential for Indiana to develop and expand programs that equip Hoosiers with the skills necessary to fill the thousands of open positions available today and the one million jobs projected to be available over the next decade.”

Adams County was again ranked in the top 10 as it tied with Hendricks and Elkhart counties for the sixth-lowest rate at 3.1 percent. 

The top five included Dubois County (2.8 percent), Hamilton and Bartholomew counties (2.9 percent) and Boone and LaGrange counties (3 percent).

Lake and Vermillion counties tied for the highest rate in the state at 5.9 percent.

Area unemployment rates are as follows:

Adams County: 3.1 percent, up 0.1 percentage points, t-sixth lowest.

Blackford County: 5.4 percent, up 0.6 percentage points, t-seventh highest.

Delaware County: 4.8 percent, up 0.2 percentage points, t-14th highest.

Jay County: 4.1 percent, no change, t-41st highest.

Randolph County: 4.4 percent, up 0.5 percentage points, t-26th highest.

Wells County: 3.3 percent, up 0.2 percentage points, t-sixth lowest.