INDIANAPOLIS — Unemployment in Bartholomew County ticked up last month but still remains lower than the state and national jobless rates, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development said.
Last month, the jobless rate in Bartholomew County was 3.6%, up from 3.3% in April. A similar increase was reported in Jackson County, where unemployment went from 3.3% in April to 3.7% in May.
By comparison, U.S. unemployment was 5.8% in May, down from 6.1% the month before. Indiana’s jobless rate was 4% in May, largely flat from 3.9% in April.
Over the first two weeks in June, the number of Bartholomew County workers filing initial jobless claims has continued its general downward trend since early 2020, when countless businesses shut down and laid off employees as COVID-19 infections swept across the country, according to state records.
A total of 67 local workers filed initial unemployment claims the week ending June 12, according to the most recent figures. That was down from 82 the week before and 1,845 the week of April 11, 2020.
Overall, 371 workers were drawing jobless benefits the week ending June 5, up slightly from 367 the week before.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
