Indiana unemployment rate over half-point better than the nation

Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM

By Staff report

The unemployment rate of the State of Indiana in August was recorded to be 3.6% according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

By comparison, the national unemployment rate reported for August was 4.3%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate is 63.6% compared to the national rate of 62.3%. This rate is 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 other non-working populations, such as individuals unable to work due to a disability or illness, or adults responsible for their family's childcare needs. Indiana’s total labor force stands at 3,489,209.

Starke County unemployment is one of the highest in the state ranked fifth at 4.6%. Fulton County is 28th on the list with a rate of 3.8%, and Kosciusko County is 40th at 3.7%.

Pulaski County is 85th out of 92 counties, with a rate of 3.2%.

August 2025's total private employment stands at 2,856,500, an increase of 3,900 from the previous month. Industries that experienced job increases this month included:

Trade, Transportation & Health Services (+2,400)

Private Educational & Health Services (+1,700)

Leisure & Hospitality (+1,300)

Construction (+700)

As of September 1, 2025, there were 84,420 open job postings throughout the state. As of the week ending on September 6, 2025, Indiana had 19,393 continued unemployment insurance claims filed.