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August 2026 Employment Report, Marshall County ranked 57th with 3.2% rate

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 2:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Indiana's unemployment rate stood at 3.3% in August, well below the national rate of 4.1% reported for July, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The state's labor force participation rate also outpaced the nation, at 63.0% compared to 61.6% nationwide.

Indiana's total labor force stands at 3,488,019. The labor force participation rate measures the percentage of Hoosiers 16 and older who are either working or actively looking for work. Those not in the labor force include primarily students, retirees, and individuals unable to work due to disability, illness, or childcare responsibilities.

Marshall County recorded an August unemployment rate of 3.2%, ranking 57th out of Indiana's 92 counties — a solid showing that keeps the county below the state average.

The counties surrounding Marshall present a wide range of outcomes. A cluster of neighboring counties ranks among the highest in the state for unemployment, while others sit near the bottom:

  • St. Joseph County — 4.1%, ranked 6th
  • Starke County — 4.1%, ranked 7th
  • Elkhart County — 3.8%, ranked 8th
  • LaPorte County — 3.8%, ranked 9th
  • Fulton County — 3.5%, ranked 28th
  • Kosciusko County — 3.4%, ranked 38th
  • Pulaski County — 2.7%, ranked 90th

Lake County topped the list with the highest unemployment rate in the state at 4.8%, while Wells County had the lowest at 2.7%, ranked 92nd.

The data shows that while St. Joseph, Starke, Elkhart, and LaPorte counties have some of the highest unemployment rates in Indiana, Marshall County and its neighbors to the south — Fulton, Kosciusko, and Pulaski — are faring considerably better, all sitting below the state average.

August 2026 total private employment reached 2,843,800, an increase of 4,000 jobs since July. Industries that experienced job increases this month included:

  • Manufacturing: +3,500
  • All Other: +3,000
  • Leisure and Hospitality: +1,200
  • Professional and Business Services: +800

As of August 30, 2026, there were 102,895 open job postings throughout the state. As of the week ending September 5, 2026, Indiana had 17,551 continued unemployment insurance claims filed.

Individuals looking for work, training, or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.

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