Unemployment Rate Improves, But Shrinking Labor Force A Cause For Concern
Justin Hicks/IPB News
The unemployment rate in Indiana continues to creep lower according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It estimates 3.9 percent of the state’s available labor force was unemployed in March, down just 0.1 percentage points from February.
However, the state’s labor force – the number of people looking for work or already working – shrunk to its lowest point since October as concerns mount over a steady increase in COVID-19 cases.
Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Fred Payne told workforce leaders on Thursday that's a number to watch closely since it means more people are “on the sidelines” for a variety of reasons.