The state's private sector increased jobs for the third consecutive month after a 2,500-person boost in September. But the unemployment rate remains at 3.5 percent.

The state's unemployment rate is the highest it's been in nearly a year. And August marked three months in a row in which the rate went up - the state's worst stretch since the height of the recession.

The Indiana unemployment rate climbed 0.2 percent over the last two months. It now stands at 3.4 percent, its highest point this year.

The rate increased a 0.01 percent, up to 3.3 percent in June. That's the first time it's gone up since July last year.

The 3.2 percent rate held steady since February, again equaling its lowest level in nearly 18 years.

Indiana's unemployment rate is at 3.2 percent for the third consecutive month. Before this year, it hadn't been that low since late 2000.

The state's private sector added 4,300 jobs, including a big boost in the trade, transportation and utilities sector.

The rate was helped by a 5,200 job surge in the state's private sector, led by the construction industry.

The state's January unemployment rate of 3.3 percent is its lowest since the beginning of 2001. But for the fifth consecutive month, Indiana's labor force shrunk.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent last month. That represents a drop of half of a percent since October.