More Hoosiers are working than ever before, as Indiana ended 2018 by reporting record employment numbers for the year and job gains in every major sector measured by the state.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported on Jan. 18 that the total number of employed Hoosiers in December preliminarily reached 3,284,190, while private employment hit 2,731,600—both new highs for the state. Total preliminary private employment in 2018 grew by 42,700 people from the previous peak in December 2017, according to DWD. Dating back to July 2009, Indiana has gained 408,400 private jobs since state employment bottomed out during the recession. That translates to private sector job growth of 17.6 percent—better than the Midwest region, which registered 13.4 percent employment growth during that period. Also, Indiana’s labor force participation rate in December stood at 65.1 percent. The rate has now outperformed the national average (63.1 percent) for 55 consecutive months.
-Construction, +13,900 jobs
-Trade, Transportation & Utilities, +10,900 jobs
-Professional & Business Services, +8,800 jobs
-Private Education & Health Services, +6,300 jobs
-Financial Activities, +4,500 jobs
-Manufacturing, +3,100 jobs