Unemployment in Bartholomew County ticked down slightly last month as a resurgence of coronavirus cases threatens economic recovery in many parts of the country.
In November, the county’s unemployment rate declined to 3.9%, down slightly from an adjusted rate in October of 4.2% and 17.2% in April, according to figures released Monday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
State officials had initially reported a 3.8% unemployment rate in Bartholomew County in October. Unemployment in Bartholomew County in November 2019 was 2.3%.
The slight decline locally in the unemployment rate in November mirrored a trend seen across much of the state, where unemployment ticked down last month to its lowest level since the pandemic took root.
In November, the state’s unemployment rate was 5%, down slightly from 5.5% in October. By comparison, state unemployment stood at 3.2% in November 2019.
Surrounding counties also saw a slight decrease in their jobless rates, according to state figures.
Jackson County posted the largest decline in unemployment of any of the surrounding counties, dropping to 4.1% in November, a 0.5% decrease from 4.6% in October.
Brown County’s unemployment rate last month was 4.2%, down from 4.5% in October. Decatur County’s rate was 4.1% in November, compared to 4.2% in October.
Jennings County’s rate was 4.8% last month, just a hair lower than the 4.9% in October.
Despite the drop in unemployment over the past several months, Bartholomew County workers are still filing for jobless benefits at higher rates than in recent years, according to state records.
An average of 29 workers in Bartholomew County filed initial unemployment claims from 2015 to 2019, and the total number of workers drawing unemployment benefits never exceeded 398 during any week over the same time period.
In Bartholomew County, 203 workers filed initial unemployment claims the week ending Dec. 12, the latest data available from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
That was down from 284 the week before and was the first decline in the initial claims since late October.
A total of 567 Bartholomew County workers were drawing some sort of jobless aid the week ending Dec. 5, continuing a general downward trend since May.
The release of November’s unemployment rate also came just days after the federal government reported that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose the week ending Dec. 12 to 885,000, the highest weekly total since September, according to The Associated Press.
The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of applications increased from 862,000 the previous week, according to wire reports. It showed that nine months after the virus paralyzed the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs as the pandemic forces more business restrictions and leads many consumers to stay home. The number of claims was much higher than the 800,000 that economists had expected.
Before the coronavirus erupted in March, weekly jobless claims had typically numbered only about 225,000. The far-higher current pace reflects an employment market under stress and diminished job security for many.
The total number of people who are receiving traditional state unemployment benefits fell to 5.5 million from 5.8 million, according to the AP. That figure is down sharply from its peak of nearly 23 million in May.
It means that some jobless Americans are finding jobs and no longer receiving aid. But it also indicates that many of the unemployed have used up their state benefits, which typically expire after six months.
With layoffs still elevated and new confirmed viral cases in the United States now exceeding 200,000 a day on average, the economy’s modest recovery is increasingly in danger, according to wire reports. States and cities are issuing mask mandates, limiting the size of gatherings, restricting restaurant dining, closing gyms or reducing the hours and capacity of bars, stores and other businesses.
In recent weeks, two local restaurants — Sirloin Stockade and the Garage Pub and Grill — have announced that they would close temporarily in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, joining thousands of others nationwide struggling to survive in a year-long expectation of social distancing.
Representatives from both restaurants previously told The Republic that they hope to reopen in the spring depending on how the pandemic evolves.
However, some federal aid appears likely to arrive soon. On Sunday, congressional negotiators closed in on a $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package that would deliver additional help to businesses, $300 per week jobless checks and $600 stimulus payments to most Americans.
