It was a mixed bag for the month of September as far as what happened with unemployment rates. Nationally, the rate went from 3.9% in August to 3.7% in September, with an additional 134,000 jobs created that month.
For the State of Indiana, there was no change in the rate from August to September at 3.5%, with the labor force increased by 4,564 persons.
At the County level, Starke County saw its rate diminish from 4.4% in August to 3.7% in September, the lowest point for 2018.The labor force decreased in the county for the third consecutive month, with those unemployed down by 85 for the month.
Ron Gifford has worked for the Foundation as Special Projects Coordinator since 2008 after a law career of 32 years. In addition to his duties for the Foundation, Mr. Gifford serves as Director of the Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning (SCILL) and as a Business Advisor for the Indiana Small Business Development Center, serving businesses and entrepreneurs in both Starke and Pulaski Counties.