Indiana's private sector job growth rebounded in April, adding 12,000 jobs last month. Yet, the state's unemployment rate increased for the third consecutive month.
Almost every employment sector added jobs in April, led by significant growth in manufacturing. That spurred Indiana to its highest number of private sector jobs in state history. Yet, the unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percent, up to 5.2 percent. That's the third consecutive month it went up, and the highest level in more than a year.
The increase in the unemployment rate – while the state added 12,000 jobs at the same time – is explained by a surge in labor force participation. That's people actively looking for jobs, as well as those already employed. More than 20,000 Hoosiers joined the labor force in April, accounting for the rise in the unemployment rate.