Local employment picture brightens slightly

The employment picture is improving in Bartholomew County. According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the county’s unemployment rate has fallen below the state and national average. The June figures show Bartholomew County with 10.2 percent unemployment, compared to May’s 12.7 percent and the state and national average of 11.2 percent.

According to figures released today, the Columbus Metropolitan Area’s total non-farm payroll for June grew to 49,500, compared to May’s 48,400, a 2.27 percent increase. However last year at this time, the community had 53,100 non-farm payroll jobs, a drop of 6.78 percent year-over-year.

The highest unemployment rate in surrounding counties in June was Shelby County with 12.3 percent and the lowest was Johnson County with 9.3 percent.