Indiana unemployment dips to 8.2 percent

Where Indiana stands:

As of December 2012, the unemployment rate is 8.2 percent for Indiana, ranked 37th of all 50 states. The lower the ranking, the higher the unemployment rate. Indiana’s rate is right below Kentucky, which is at 8.1 percent, tied with New York at 8.2 percent and right above Oregon, 8.4 percent.

In comparison:

Western states continued to record the highest regional unemployment rate in December at 8.6 percent, while the Midwest again reported the lowest rate at 7.1 percent.

Nevada and Rhode Island recorded the highest unemployment rates among the states in December, 10.2 percent each. North Dakota recorded the lowest jobless rate, 3.2 percent.

Even though Indiana’s unemployment is at 8.2 percent, it is not listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics among states with unemployment rates significantly different from that of the U.S., December 2012, seasonally adjusted.

Unemployment rates for Indiana: 8.9 in December 2011, 8.0 October 2012, 8.0 November 2012 and 8.2 December 2012

General Trends:

Twenty-two states recorded unemployment rate decreases, 16 states and the District of Columbia posted increases, and 12 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in December 2012.

— Anu Kumar