The July jobs report proved to be better than forecasted, with an additional 163,000 jobs added during the month nationally.  Analysts had predicted something more in the area of 95,000 new jobs.  Manufacturing jobs increased by 25,000 during the month.

Despite the jobs outcome, the national unemployment rate inched upward from 8.2% last month to 8.3% for July.

The Starke County unemployment rate for June, 2012 rose by .1% from the revised rate for May, which was 9.7%.  That new rate of 9.8% was a lesser increase than any of Starke's neighboring counties, which saw increases ranging from .2% up to .8%.  Overall for the State of Indiana, the state rate rose by the same .1% up to 8.0%, while the national rate stayed the same at 8.2%.

Indiana enjoyed the 8th straight month of adding private sector jobs, with manufacturing continuing its strong showing adding another 2800 jobs in June, making a total of 15,100 new jobs in 2012.  Overall, Indiana experienced a private sector job growth of 1400 jobs in June, making an additional 140,000 private sector jobs added since July of 2009.  Government and Public Education and Heath Services continued to shed jobs during the month.

Three of Indiana's neighboring states saw their rates increase from that reported in May, with only Ohio seeing a decrease in its rate of .1%.

The 2012 CNBC "Top States for Business Report" was recently issued, finding that Indiana moved up one place from 15th to 14th among the fifty states since the 2011 report.  The CNBC Report seeks to determine how well a state does with respect to what it touts itself at being good at in its effort to sell itself.

Indiana ranked in the top 25 states in 7 of the 10 categories looked at, including #5 in Business Friendliness, #7 in Cost of Living, #11 in Economy, #16 in Cost of Business, #18 in Infrastructure and Transportation, #23 in Technology and Innovation, and # 25 in Education.  When compared to its neighboring states, Indiana's #14 ranking fared well, with Ohio next at #25, Illinois at #26, Michigan at #33, and Kentucky in a tie for #36.  Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky all held lower rankings this year than last.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued its June jobs report this morning, with a reported 80,000 jobs created in June.  Experts were expecting a figure somewhat closer to 90,000 new jobs.  The May totals were revised up from 69,000 to 77,000, and the unemployment rate for the United States continued at 8.2%.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has reported that the US 35 bridge over the Yellow River on the north side of Knox is now about 49% completed, with the lane on the east side of the road about done.  The road will switch to that new side sometime within the next 10 days, so travel will continue to be limited to one side and controlled by a traffic signal at each end.

With State Road 23 reopened to traffic on June 28, 2012, the last remaining items in the Koontz Lake Dam Project are nearing completion.  The latest report from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) said that as of June 26, 2012, that project is 98% complete.

The 5th Annual Manufacturing and Logistics Report Card has been released this week by Conexus Indiana and the Ball State Center for Business and Economic Research.  For the second consecutive year, Indiana received a grade of A in 4 of the 9 categories that were looked at.  Only Texas had as many A grades.

Indiana continued to rank high, not only in the Midwest Region, but also nationally, as it was ranked as the most manufacturing-intensive economy in the nation.  The state ranks first among states in manufacturing employment per capita, 9th in logistics employment, and 10th in freight shipments by tonnage.  This combined to give Indiana an A in both manufacturing and logistics.

Indiana also received an A in Global Position, ranking 10th in manufacturing exports per capita, and first in income derived from foreign manufacturing investment.  The other area that received a grade of A was for its favorable tax climate.

The study also noted these Quick Facts about Indiana:

      Manufacturing workers earn about 50% more than non-manufacturing workers with the same level of education

      Indiana exports manufactured goods to every continent except Anartica.

      Indiana has consistently improved its grades in logistics, benefit costs, diversification, and productivity/innovation.

      Indiana has received straight grades of A in manufacturing, tax climate, and global reach for 5 consecutive years.

The unemployment rate for Starke County as of May, 2012 has fallen to 9.6%, the lowest it has been in the County since November of 2008, when it was 9.0%.  In addition,the rate has fallen from 11.7% in January of this year down to its current level, including four straight months when it has gone down from the previous month.

The rate for the State of Indiana has fallen to 7.9%, while the national rate is at 8.2%.  Neighboring states range from 7.3% in Ohio up to 8.6% in Illinois.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has updated their construction progress report on two projects that are currently ongoing in Starke County.  The Koontz Lake Dam project is now listed as 93% complete, with State Road 23 scheduled for opening no later than June 27.  That project has been ongoing for several months and included reconstruction of the dam and road at that location.  The contract for this work was let on January 12, 2011 in the amount of $4,646,759.

The second project is the reconstruction of the bridge on US 35 over the Yellow River on the north side of Knox.  That project is now about 43% complete, and plans are to pour the bridge deck within the next couple of weeks.  This project was let on March 7, 2012 in the amount of $803,101.

The Port of Indiana - Burns Harbor handled its first shipment of wind components in May and has seen major increases in several steel products as well as industrial and agricultural cargoes.  This has resulted in a 6% increase in 2012 shipments through the first five months of the year.  Significant increases in early shipments of fertilizer, corn and soybeans amount to 10 times greater shipments than at the same time last year.

The Port has reported that they have seen new outbound shipments of slag material for Phoenix Services, one of three companies opening new facilities at the Port in 2012.  The Port of Indiana - Burns Harbor is located about 45 miles from Starke County, Indiana.

The entire St. Lawrence Seaway reported that year-to-date total cargo shipments for the period of March 22 through May 31 were up 3.7% over the same period in 2011.