Indiana's Unemployment Rate Drops For Second Consecutive Month

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana’s private sector achieved a significant decrease in the unemployment rate for the second month in a row in May while creating nearly 10,000 jobs. 

Indiana had its largest decrease in the unemployment rate in more than 20 years in April, falling from 5.8 to 5.4 percent.  The rate dropped again in May, this time to 5.1 percent, the lowest level since March of 2008. 

The number of people employed or actively looking for work increased by nearly 1,400 after four consecutive months in decline. And, the private sector added 9,700 jobs last month, led by significant increases in the leisure and hospitality sectors, while the manufacturing sector surged to its highest number of employees in seven years. 

That increase leaves Indiana just 300 jobs shy of what’s called peak employment, the most people working in the private sector at one time, a record set in 2000.