Indiana March 2026 Employment Report

Friday, May 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Indiana continued to outperform the national economy in March 2026, with the state recording an unemployment rate of 3.3%, well below the national rate of 4.3%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Indiana's strong employment picture is further reflected in its labor force participation rate of 63.3%, which also surpasses the national rate of 61.9%. This figure represents the percentage of Hoosiers age 16 and older who are either currently employed or actively seeking work. Those not counted in the labor force include primarily students, retirees, individuals unable to work due to a disability or illness, and adults responsible for their family's childcare needs. Indiana's total labor force stands at 3,493,123.

Marshall County recorded a March unemployment rate of 3.4%, placing it 44th among Indiana's 92 counties. Among the surrounding counties, Starke County had the highest unemployment rate in the region at 4.8%, ranking 3rd in the state. Fulton County and LaPorte County each posted a rate of 4.1%, ranking 10th and 11th, respectively. St. Joseph County came in at 19th with a rate of 3.9%, while Elkhart County ranked 30th with a rate of 3.5%.

Further down the list, Kosciusko County ranked 69th with a rate of 3.2%, and Pulaski County fared best among area counties, ranking 84th statewide with an unemployment rate of just 2.9%.

Statewide, Howard County recorded the highest unemployment rate for March at 5.7%, while Union County posted the lowest at 2.6%.

Total private employment in Indiana for March 2026 reached 2,839,200, an increase of 5,400 jobs since February. Several industries led the way in job growth during the month:

Manufacturing — +2,000 jobs
Leisure & Hospitality — +1,900 jobs
Trade, Transportation & Utilities — +900 jobs
Financial Activities — +700 jobs
Private Educational & Health Services — +100 jobs

As of March 29, 2026, there were 98,050 open job postings across the state, reflecting continued employer demand for workers. As of the week ending April 4, 2026, Indiana had 20,972 continued unemployment insurance claims on file.

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