Indiana unemployment rate holds steady

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The January 2010 unemployment report is in, and Indiana appears to be holding steady.

The reported unemployment rate in Indiana was 9.7 percent, the same as the national rate. This is the same rate as the revised December 2009 rate.

During January, seasonally-adjusted employment dropped by 2000 across the state. Some of the biggest losses came in the following sectors:

• Private Education & Health Services: 5,700
• Leisure & Hospitality: 2,600
• Construction: 2,200

However, some sectors did see significant growth, including:

• Manufacturing: 3,900
• Financial Activities: 600
• Professional & Business Services: 600

A preliminary county-by-county unemployment report shows Elkhart County leading the state in unemployment, with a rate of 15.6 percent, and Davies County with the lowest unemployment, at 6.3 percent.

Unemployment in nearby counties is as follows:

• 15th statewide: Newton - 13.0 percent
• 23rd statewide: White - 12.3 percent
• 30th statewide: Jasper - 11.9 percent
• 38th statewide: Fountain - 11.6 percent
• 46th statewide: Cass - 11.3 percent
• 52nd statewide: Carroll - 10.8 percent
• 53rd statewide: Clinton - 10.8 percent
• 63rd statewide: Pulaski - 10.1 percent
• 66th statewide: Montgomery - 10.0 percent
• 75th statewide: Tippecanoe - 9.4 percent
• 76th statewide: Warren - 9.4 percent
• 82nd statewide: Boone - 8.5 percent

You can see a map of state unemployment by county here .

Indiana is still boasts lower unemployment than the surrounding states. Michigan's unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percent to 14.3 percent. Ohio's rate remained stable at 10.8 percent. Illinois' rate increased 0.3 percent to 11.3 percent. Kentucky increased 0.1 percent to 10.7 percent.

Since January 2009, Indiana's unemployment rate increased approximately half as much as the U.S. and neighboring Midwest states. Indiana's unemployment rate grew 0.9 percent from the January 2009 rate of 8.8 percent. Kentucky climbed 1.6 percent. Ohio increased 2.2 percent. Michigan grew 3.0 percent. Illinois jumped 3.2 percent. The US unemployment rate increased 2.0 percent from January 2009.