Putnam works its way back up jobless standings to 33rd spot

Monday, December 2, 2013

There is good news on both the local and state unemployment fronts among the latest job figures released recently.

While Indiana's unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 percent for October, marking its lowest level since late 2008, Putnam County posted a 6.5 jobless rate that was good for a tie for 33rd best among the state's 92 counties.

Forging a steady climb over recent months to now get within two spots of the top third of Indiana's unemployment standings, Putnam County's 6.5 percent mark represents the best monthly figure posted locally since at least late 2010.

Even as the recession seems to be receding, unemployed residents have taken to holding signs asking for donations atop the lane divider at the Calbert Way entrance to the Greencastle Walmart store. "Family in need, anything helps!" is this man's recent message, followed by "God bless you!"

Tempering any enthusiasm over that latest figure, however, is the knowledge that the recent reported layoffs at Dixie Chopper have not yet impacted the local jobless number.

But for October, Putnam County was tied with Decatur and Huntington counties for 33rd best, faring better than all but two contiguous counties, Hendricks and Morgan.

Hendricks, a perpetual top-10 finisher, was sixth overall for October at 5.5 percent. Morgan, at 6.3 percent, claimed the 27th spot in the state rankings in a tie with Rush, Spencer and Carroll counties.

Putnam's numbers ranked better than its four other neighboring counties. Montgomery was in a four-way tie with Wabash, Perry and Noble counties for 42nd with a 6.8 percent jobless rate, while Owen County, at 7.1 percent, was tied for 53rd overall.

Meanwhile Parke and Clay counties, mired in the bottom 20 counties for most of 2013, have crept out of that hole and into a three-way tie with Greene at 62nd (or 29th worst) for October.

The best jobless figure in the state for the month belongs to Hamilton, Dubois, Batholomew and Davies counties, all tied at 5.1 percent, followed by Knox at 5.4 percent, Hendricks and Boone at 5.5, Martin at 5.6, Pulaski, Johnson and Jackson all at 5.7 in a tie for ninth.

At the bottom of the Hoosier jobless rankings was Fountain County at 9.8 percent, followed by Fayette at 9.7, Sullivan at 9.6, Vermillion at 9.3 and Lake at 9.0. Rounding out the bottom 10 were Lawrence (8.8), Miami (8.7), Vigo (8.7), LaPorte (8.6) and St. Joseph (8.4).

Statewide, figures released by the state Department of Workforce Development show Indiana's jobless rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point for last month.

It is now nearly a point lower than the 8.4 percent rate Indiana posted in June and July. 

Indiana's jobless rate is slightly higher than the national figure of 7.3 percent.

The new report shows nearly 223,000 Hoosiers were looking for jobs last month in Indiana.



The employment report shows a good trend for the state, Gov. Mike Pence said in a statement.



"Despite the encouraging news, there are still far too many Hoosiers struggling in this economy, and we cannot afford to let up in our effort to make Indiana even more attractive for investment and jobs," Pence said.



Indiana's unemployment rate peaked at 10.8 percent in mid-2009, when nearly 350,000 people were looking for jobs. Indiana joblessness declined below 9 percent in late 2010, but had stubbornly not fallen much more until the last few months.



The largest employment gains for Indiana during October came in the manufacturing, construction and private educational and health services sectors, according to the state report.

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