Job growth in Indiana’s private sector has grown by 55,500 this year—a rate of 2.4 percent or four times faster than the national rate of 0.6 percent—but unemployment nevertheless crept up in July, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) said today.

DWD reported the state’s preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate last month to be 10.2 percent, slightly higher than the 10.1 percent recorded in May.

Even so, private-sector employment gained 13,000 jobs in July with five of the eight employment sectors showing significant gains, DWD said.

“With 2 percent of the population Hoosiers have captured 9 percent of all the new jobs in the nation,” DWD Commissioner Mark Everson said. “We’re pleased with the continued improvement in manufacturing and signs of life in construction. Our unemployment rate stubbornly remains around 10 percent because Indiana’s positive job growth has encouraged thousands of Hoosiers to return to the labor force and resume their job hunt this year.”

Sectors reporting significant growth month-over-month include private education and health services (+4,600); manufacturing (+4,300); construction (+2,800); financial activities (+1,600); and trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,100).

Declining sectors include professional and business services (-800); and leisure and hospitality (-500).

Government employment declined by 4,300 jobs mostly due to the end of census work, DWD said.

Total non-farm employment increased by 8,700 jobs in July, DWD added.

In Porter County, the preliminary seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in July fell by nearly half a point, to 8.6 percent from 9.0 percent in June (9.2 percent in July 2009). Across Porter County 6,932 people were looking for work in July, compared to 7,317 in June, a decrease of 5.2 percent (a decrease of 11.1 percent since July 2009).

In Lake County the unemployment rate remained unchanged in July, 11.1 percent, the same as in June (10.5 percent in July 2009). In LaPorte County the unemployment rate slid marginally in July to 11.4 percent, compared to 11.5 percent in June (11.3 percent in July 2009).

In Chesterton the unemployment rate in July dropped by fully half a point, to 7.8 percent from 8.3 percent in June (9.7 percent in July 2009). A total of 500 people was looking for work in July, compared to 531 in June, a decrease of 5.8 percent (a decrease of 25 percent since July 2009).

In Valparaiso the unemployment rate in July fell by more than half a point, to 8.3 percent from 8.9 percent in June (8.2 percent in July 2009). A total of 1,250 people was looking for work in July, compared to 1,357, a decrease of 7.88 percent (a decrease of 2.7 percent since July 2009).

In Portage the unemployment rate in July increased marginally to 10.1 percent, from 10.0 percent in June (10.8 percent in July 2009). A total of 1,790 people was looking for work in July, compared to 1,787 in May, an increase of three job hunters (a decrease of 11.6 percent since July 2009).

Unemployment elsewhere in July:

•In Gary the rate increased to 12.9 percent from 12.8 percent in June (12.6 percent in July 2009).

•In East Chicago the rate increased a full point to 17.0 from 16.0 percent in June (15.4 percent in July 2009).

•In Hammond the rate increased to 12.7 percent from 12.3 percent in June (11.8 percent in July 2009).

•In Michigan City the rate increased to 12.4 percent from 12.1 percent in June (11.9 percent in July 2009).

•In LaPorte the rate increased to 11.9 percent from 11.6 percent in June (12.0 percent in July 2009).

The official national unemployment rate remained unchanged in July, 9.5 percent, the same as in June (9.4 percent in July 2009).

But—according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—if “discouraged workers,” “all other marginally attached workers,” and “total unemployed part-time for economic reasons” are included in the tally, the unofficial unemployment rate in July was 16.5 percent, the same as in June.

“Marginally attached workers” are those “who indicate that they want a job, have looked for work in the last 12 months (or since the last time they worked if they worked within the last 12 months), and are available for work.

“Discouraged workers” are not currently looking for work for several reasons, including their belief that no job is available to them in their line of work or their area.

“Persons employed part-time for economic reasons” are those “who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.”

Posted 8/23/2010