Jay rate up by 0.2 points

Unemployment rates were up across the state last month.

Jay County fared better than most.

According to estimates released this week by Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Jay County’s unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points in July to 4.7%.

The local increase was the smallest in the region, with every other county seeing its rate go up by at least 0.4 percentage points. Blackford and Wells counties saw their rates shoot up by 1.4 and 1.6 percentage points, respectively.

Even so, the July rate — it was up from 3.5% for the same month last year — for Jay County is its highest since the 2020 spike during the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns. The rate had climbed to 4.1% in February, dipped back to 3% and has increased in each of the last three months.

Indiana’s unemployment rate climbed as a whole, increasing 0.6 percentage points from June to 5%. The state’s rate in July 2023 was 3.7%.

Howard County posted the highest unemployment rate amongst Indiana’s 92 counties, hitting 7%. Fayette County followed at 6.9%, with Huntington County at 6.7%, Blackford and Lake counties at 6.6%, and Delaware County at 6.3%.

Martin County claimed the lowest unemployment rate in Indiana at 3.6% last month after Gibson County had held that spot from February through June. Benton, Clinton and Dubois counties followed at 3.7%.

Area unemployment rates are as follows:

Adams County: 4.7%, up 0.7 percentage point, tied for 44th-lowest

Blackford County: 6.6%, up 1.6 percentage points, tied for fourth-highest

Delaware County: 6.3%, up 0.8 percentage points, sixth-highest

Jay County: 4.7%, up 0.2 percentage points, tied for 44th-lowest

Randolph County: 5%, up 0.4 percentage points, tied for 33rd-highest

Wells County: 5%, up 1.4 percentage points, tied for 33rd-highest