July Unemployment at 3.7%

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, has released the July unemployment report.  The unemployment rate listed for workers residing in Huntington County was 3.7%.

The report indicates there were 122 new prople joining the overall labor force in July as compared to June and 31 additional people were employed compared to June.  91 additional people were counted as unemployed during the month.

The Trump Administration has made significant changes at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently, having fired the former director of the agency.

"While I'm not an expert statistician, the math seems to fluctuate in ways I cannot confirm as a field practitioner," said Mark Wickersham, executive director of the Huntington County Economic Development Corporation.  "According to their data, the Huntington County labor force, actual residents in Huntington County, has increased by 809 people since the beginning of the year.  We don't have any data locally to confirm that type of change in our population," he said.  "I agree with the general trend line in terms of how many jobs there are and how many are actually unemployed.  That data should be something which can be confirmed if by no other means than by comparing official filings for unemployment compensation and newly created employment forms submitted by employers for withholding tax purposes.  At least as a field practitioner for the last 20 years, I believe Huntington County's job market is very strong," Wickersham concluded.

Job posting site Indeed.com reports over 800 job openings within 10 miles of Huntington.