INDIANA — Indiana’s labor market showed continued resilience this spring as the state’s unemployment rate edged down to 3.2% for April, according to the latest employment report released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
The state’s jobless rate remains significantly lower than the national unemployment rate, which held steady at 4.3% for the same period.
Indiana also continues to outpace the rest of the country in workforce engagement. The state’s labor force participation rate was reported at 63.2%, compared to a lower national average of 61.8%.
This metric measures the percentage of Hoosiers aged 16 and older who are either currently employed or actively looking for work. Indiana’s total available labor force stood at 3,487,162 individuals in April.
According to state officials, the remaining population not counted in the labor force consists primarily of students, retirees, individuals unable to work due to a disability or illness, and adults staying home to meet family childcare needs.
Despite a tight labor market, employment opportunities remain abundant across the state. As of April 30, Indiana tracking systems showed 94,224 open job postings across various sectors. Meanwhile, the number of continued unemployment insurance claims filed statewide stood at 19,380 for the week ending May 2.
While the overall unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point, total private employment experienced a microscopic dip, falling by 600 jobs since March to a total of 2,841,300.
The minor overall decline was heavily buffered by robust gains in infrastructure, supply chain, and healthcare sectors.
| Sector | Job Growth (April) |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities | +4,200 |
| Private Educational & Health Services | +1,100 |
| Construction | +600 |
Other sectors, which were not explicitly itemized by the DWD, saw small offsetting contractions to account for the minor net drop in monthly private sector payrolls. Hoosiers who are currently looking for work, training opportunities, or local career information are encouraged by state officials to utilize resources online at the official Department of Workforce Development portal..
Individuals looking for work, training, or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.
