COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County unemployment fell for the third consecutive month in July, but still remained more than two times higher than it was before the pandemic forced business earlier this year to close and lay off workers at levels not seen since the Great Depression.
In July, the county’s unemployment rate was 6.8%, down from 10.6% in June and 18.4% in April, according to figures released Monday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
The statewide jobless rate was 7.9% in July, down from 11.2% in June and 17.1% in April. U.S. unemployment fell to 10.2% in July, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
A total of 114 workers in Bartholomew County filed initial jobless claims the week ending Aug. 15, the lowest since the pandemic took root in the United States, according to the latest figures from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. That was down from 122 the previous week and 1,845 the week ending April 11.
Additionally, 1,559 Bartholomew County workers were receiving jobless benefits the week ending Aug. 8, down from 1,782 the week before and 5,039 the week ending May 2.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
