INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.6 percent for December and remains lower than the national rate of 3.9 percent. Indiana's unemployment rate now has been equal or below the U.S. rate for more than five years. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.

Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 1,543 over the previous month. This was a result of an increase of 83 unemployed residents and an increase of 1,460 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.40 million, and the state’s 65.1 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.1 percent.

Private sector employment grew by 12,200 over the previous month. The monthly increase is primarily due to gains in the Private Educational and Health Services (4,200), Construction (3,900) and the Leisure and Hospitality (1,500) sectors.

Unemployment rates for Indiana counties are due out next Tuesday.