Indiana Unemployment Rate Remains At 3.1%

By Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle

March 13, 2023

Indiana’s unemployment rate stayed at 3.1% for the second month in a row, according to a release from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

The 3.1% rate is a slight increase from January 2022, when unemployment hit 2.4%. However, Indiana’s unemployment rate is still lower than the national average, which fell from 3.5% in December to 3.4% in January.

Nationally, an estimated 62.4% of Americans participate in the workforce, lower than the Hoosier participation rate of 63.4%. Over 3.4 million Hoosiers make up the state’s workforce, which includes both those who are employed and those seeking a job. The number of Hoosiers in the workforce was nearly unchanged from the previous reports, falling by just 973 from January.

The largest growth came from private sector employment, which increased by 12,600 jobs from the last month. Compared to last year, Indiana gained 85,300 jobs. Overall private employment in Indiana included 2.8 million jobs.

The largest growth came from the following industries:

• Construction: 6,700 jobs
• Leisure and Hospitality: 4,700 jobs
• Private Educational and Health Services: 2,500 jobs
• Trade, Transportation and Utilities: 1,500 jobs
• Professional and Business Services: 300 jobs

As of the first of this month, Indiana had 130,839 job openings, compared to 19,460 unemployment insurance claims. The month before, Indiana reported 128,198 open job postings and 21,773 Hoosiers filing for unemployment benefits.

Those currently seeking employment, training or more information are encouraged to visit: in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.