Unemployment jumped to 3.7% in January

Unemployment climbed by more than a full percentage point from the final month of 2023 to the first of ’24.

According to estimates Indiana Department of Workforce Development released this week, unemployment in Jay County came in at 3.7% in January.

The local unemployment rate climbed by 1.1 percentage points from December to January. The rate was also up 0.6 percentage points from January 2023.

The county still remained tied for the 44th-lowest unemployment rate in the state — it was tied with Huntington, Monroe, Putnam and Washington counties — the same as in December. (It had the 34th-highest rate in the state in November.)

Unemployment trended up statewide in January, with the state rate climbing to 3.8% from 2.8% in December. 

“Indiana has carried the momentum from a strong economy in 2023 into 2024,” said department of workforce development commissioner Richard Paulk in a press release. “The unemployment rate of 3.5% remains near historic lows and remains below the national average. Additionally, Indiana has again set a new peak for private sector employment.”

Each of the counties adjacent to Jay County saw its rate increase by at least 0.8 percentage points, with Randolph County showing the largest jump at an increase of 1.3 percentage points.

Daviess and Gibson counties tied for the lowest unemployment rates in the state at 2.8% in January. Hamilton, Clinton and Boone counties were next at 2.9%.