Indiana’s unemployment rate held steady in November at a seasonally adjusted 9 percent, slightly higher than the overall U.S. rate that dropped to 8.6 percent, the state’s Department of Workforce Development said Tuesday morning.
The state gained 1,700 private-sector jobs in November, DWD said.
The total number of unemployed Hoosiers was 275,374 in November, compared with a revised 273,474 in October.
The state’s unemployment rate is down from 9.6 percent in November 2010.
Employment sectors adding a significant amount of jobs were construction, leisure and hospitality, and transportation.
Employment in manufacturing, government and financial activities showed large declines.
Indiana’s unemployment rate is lower than that of all neighboring states except Ohio's 8.5 percent. Kentucky’s is 9.4 percent, Illinois’ is 10 percent, and Michigan’s is 9.8 percent.
In the Indianapolis metropolitan area, the non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 8.2 percent in November, down from 8.6 percent in November 2010.
Comparisons of metro areas are more accurately made using the same months in prior years because the government does not adjust the figures for factory furloughs and other seasonal fluctuations.