The number of people on the job in Jackson County climbed by nearly 800 in November compared to a year ago.

That rise, however, didn’t keep the county’s jobless rate from inching up slightly in November.

According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s most recent report, the number of people in the county with jobs in November rose to 20,974. That’s just 89 more people than in October of this year, but 680 more than a year ago.

The county’s unemployment rate, however, also rose from 3.6 percent in October to 3.8 percent in November. A year ago in November, the county had a 5.1 percent unemployment rate.

“The numbers continue to look positive … obviously pleased when the report shows more people working in November than October and a nice increase over a year ago,” said Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp.

The number of jobless claims filed in November was 828, up from 790 in October. In November a year ago, 1,092 claims were filed.

Overall, the workforce in the county grew to 21,820 from 21,675 in October, and from 21,386 in November 2014.

Just nine Hoosier counties had rates lower than 3.8 percent. Hamilton and Dubois counties led the way at 3.3 percent, and Bartholomew County’s rate was 3.4. The state’s rate was 4.4 percent compared to the national rate of 4.8.

Vermillion County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 6.6 percent.

Other counties in the area and their rates in November were Brown, 4.2 (49th); Washington 4.5 (41st); Jennings 4.5 (39th); Monroe 4.6 (34th); Scott 4.9 (26th); and Lawrence 5.7 (ninth).

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County;rate;ranking

Jackson;3.8;77th

Bartholomew;3.4;90th

Brown;4.2;49th

Jennings;4.5;39th

Lawrence;5.7;9th

Monroe;4.6;34th

Washington;4.5;41st

State;4.4

Nation;4.8

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