Indiana July 2026 Employment Report

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 12:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Indiana's unemployment rate held at 3.3% in July, well below the national rate of 4.1%, according to data released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Marshall County posted a July unemployment rate of 3.4%, ranking it 47th among Indiana's 92 counties. The county's rate has remained remarkably steady in recent months — 3.3% in June and 3.0% in May — signaling a stable local labor market.

Among counties surrounding Marshall, Starke County posted the highest unemployment rate at 4.3%, ranking 4th statewide. Elkhart County and St. Joseph County followed, both at 4.1% and ranked 6th and 8th, respectively. LaPorte County came in at 3.8% (13th), Fulton County at 3.6% (23rd), and Kosciusko County at 3.5% (38th). Pulaski County had the lowest unemployment among neighboring counties at 2.7%, ranking 92nd.

Howard County recorded the state's highest unemployment rate at 4.9%, topping the list of all Indiana counties.

Indiana's labor force participation rate stood at 63.1% in July, outpacing the national rate of 61.4%. The participation rate reflects the percentage of Hoosiers 16 and older who are either working or actively seeking work. Those not counted in the labor force include students, retirees, individuals unable to work due to disability or illness, and adults caring for family members. Indiana's total labor force stood at 3,489,469.

Total private employment in July reached 2,843,900 — a decrease of 4,900 jobs since June. However, several industries saw gains during the month, including Construction (+1,700), Private Educational & Health Services (+1,200), and Trade, Transportation & Utilities (+600).

As of August 1, 2026, the state had 101,704 open job postings, and 18,092 continued unemployment insurance claims had been filed for the week ending August 1.

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