Counties with the highest unemployment in Indiana
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Indiana using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Indiana.
#25. Clay County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,687 people (505 unemployed)
#24. Noble County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,776 people (928 unemployed)
#23. Wayne County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,933 people (1,294 unemployed)
#22. Kosciusko County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 40,089 people (1,740 unemployed)
#21. Tipton County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,546 people (376 unemployed)
#20. Fulton County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,570 people (420 unemployed)
#19. Owen County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,656 people (422 unemployed)
#18. Scott County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,750 people (475 unemployed)
#17. Lawrence County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,560 people (920 unemployed)
#16. Grant County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,480 people (1,414 unemployed)
#15. Vigo County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 45,999 people (2,072 unemployed)
#14. Delaware County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 52,221 people (2,332 unemployed)
#13. St. Joseph County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 134,333 people (6,027 unemployed)
#12. Sullivan County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,041 people (372 unemployed)
#11. Orange County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,248 people (377 unemployed)
#10. LaPorte County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 48,521 people (2,243 unemployed)
#9. Greene County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,680 people (637 unemployed)
#8. Starke County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,784 people (465 unemployed)
#7. Cass County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,684 people (849 unemployed)
#6. Vermillion County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,628 people (324 unemployed)
#5. Blackford County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,643 people (246 unemployed)
#4. Lake County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 231,721 people (12,445 unemployed)
#3. Fayette County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,423 people (486 unemployed)
#2. Miami County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,102 people (896 unemployed)
#1. Howard County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 4.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,186 people (3,047 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
