Local unemployment remained low in February, expected to rise in March data

Kosciusko County remained below the state average for unemployment in February, but like much of the state, it is expected to be higher due to the coronavirus pandemic when March data is released next month.

According to the data released on Monday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Kosciusko County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment was at 2.9 percent, the 23rd lowest out of the states 92 counties. This benchmark was two-tenths of a percent lower than January and one-tenth down from February 2019.

In neighboring counties, unemployment also dropped:
Elkhart County was at 2.7 percent (-0.3 from January, -0.6 from Feb. 2019)
Whitley County was also at 2.9 percent (-0.2 from January, -0.5 from Feb. 2019)
Noble County was at 3.0 percent (-0.5 from January, -0.4 from Feb. 2019)
Wabash County was at 3.2 percent (-0.3 from January, -0.6 from Feb. 2019)
Marshall County was at 3.3 percent (-0.2 from January, -0.4 from Feb. 2019)
Fulton County was at 3.8 percent (-0.4 from January, -0.3 from Feb. 2019)

Across Indiana, unemployment was at 3.4 percent, two-tenths lower than January’s rate and half a percentage point lower than last February. This rate is also four-tenths of a percent lower than the national average of 3.8.