Jackson County’s unemployment rate fell to 2.2 percent in April, 1.4 percent below the April 2016 rate of 3.6 percent, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce’s report.

Overall, the number of people on the job in April grew by 599 to 21,971 from 21,372 in the same month a year ago. The number of people reporting they were looking for work in April was 487, down from 807 in April 2016. In March of this year, the county’s unemployment rate was 3.2 percent with 716 people reporting they were looking for work.

The state’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in April, while the nation’s rate was 4.1.

LaGrange County had the lowest rate in the state in April at 1.7, and Vermillion County had the highest at 4.3 percent.

The rates and rankings for other counties in the south central part of the state are Bartholomew 2 percent (86th); Brown 2.5 percent (52nd); Monroe 2.6 percent (45th); Washington 2.7 percent (43rd); Jennings 2.9 (30th); Scott 2.9 (33rd); and Lawrence 3.4 (10th).