December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Indiana Employment Snapshot

• In December, Indiana added 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Indiana added 2,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Indiana added 48,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Indiana is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Indiana’s private sector added 2,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 37,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Indiana rose by 6,997, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,813.

• Indiana’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.5 percent in December from 63.4 percent and ranks 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Indiana Payroll Employment

• Indiana added 3,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Indiana added 2,100 jobs. Indiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Indiana is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Indiana added 2,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Indiana lost 1,500 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Indiana is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Education and Health Services (2,500) and Government (1,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction tied with Other Services (-500) and Manufacturing (-1,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (14,400) and Professional and Business Services (13,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-200) and Manufacturing (-10,600).

Indiana Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Indiana rose to 63.5 percent in December from 63.4 percent in the prior month.

• Indiana ranks 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Indiana was 65.2 percent occurring in July 2018, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.