The unemployment rate in Jackson County continues to decrease with more than 1,000 residents returning to work in July, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

New statistics released Monday by the DWD show the month of June saw 11% of the county’s labor force, or 2,650 workers, unemployed. Throughout July, that number shrank dramatically to 6.6%, or 1,526 workers. This places Jackson County below the state average unemployment rate of 7.9%.

In July a year ago, 675 county residents or 2.9% from a labor force of 23,354 were looking for work.

The county’s total labor force also decreased from month to month, going from 24,143 in June to 23,158 in July of this year.

More recent statistics detailing which industries are seeing the most claims also have been made available.

During the week of Aug. 15, there were only 64 initial claims made. Of those new claims, administrative and waste management was the leading industry with 13 claims, while manufacturing was the second highest with 11.

These decreases come as more and more people return to work with COVID-19 cases in the county remaining steadily low.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health’s COVID-19 online dashboard, in the most recent seven-day period, there have been a reported 24 additional confirmed cases of the virus in Jackson County. The positivity rate for that period is 4.2% among unique individuals tested. Statewide, that number increased to 6.8%.

A total of 6,114 tests have been administered to Jackson County residents, and seven county residents have died with COVID-19.