Indiana Employment Report Graphic

Indianapolis, IN - Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.6 percent for March and remains lower than the national rate of 3.8 percent. With the exception of one month when it was equal (October 2014), Indiana's unemployment rate now has been below the U.S. rate for more than five years. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.

Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 6,769 over the previous month. This was a result of an increase of 2,634 unemployed residents and an increase of 4,135 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.41 million, and the state’s 65.3 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.0 percent.

Unemployment graphic

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.5 percent for February and remains lower than the national rate of 3.8 percent. With the exception of one month when it was equal (October 2014), Indiana's unemployment rate now has been below the U.S. rate for more than five years. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.

Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 7,997 over the previous month. This was a result of an increase of 1,755 unemployed residents and an increase of 6,242 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.40 million, and the state’s 65.2 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.2 percent.

Learn more about how unemployment rates are calculated here: http://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/infographics/employment-status.asp.

Tax ID Theft image

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR), a national leader in fraud prevention, warns Hoosiers to be cautious when handling their personal and financial information during tax season.

“Since 2014, Indiana has stopped more than $110 million in stolen identity refund fraud,” stated DOR Commissioner Adam Krupp. “Our fraud prevention programs show continuous improvements with groundbreaking results, but our efforts are lost if individuals don’t protect their own information against fraudsters.”

Tax-related identity theft occurs when a fraudulent tax return is filed claiming a refund in the victim’s name. This type of fraud starts with a stolen Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Schneider logo image

BOSTON – February 1, 2019 – Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced plans to transfer all production out of its Peru, Indiana, facility to other Schneider Electric plants. All transitions are expected to be completed by the end of the 2019. The transfer will result in the closure and sale of the Peru, Indiana facility.

Production will shift to Schneider Electric’s U.S.-based facility in Texas and one other East Coast plant yet to be determined, as well as its Monterrey, Mexico plant.

The changes are in response to competitive market dynamics and to meet the needs of Schneider Electric’s customers.

Unemployment graphic

Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.6 percent for December and remains lower than the national rate of 3.9 percent. With the exception of one month when it was equal (October 2014), Indiana's unemployment rate now has been below the U.S. rate for more than five years. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.

Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 1,543 over the previous month. This was a result of an increase of 83 unemployed residents and an increase of 1,460 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.40 million, and the state’s 65.1 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.1 percent.

Walmart image

It’s the stuff of a modern urban legend. David vs Goliath. The multi-national corporation versus small-town America.

Anytime a new business comes to Peru, or one closes (like what just happened with Kmart), people tell the tale of when Walmart tried to build a store in Peru.

Some versions tell the story of a city official dressing up as a clown to insult Walmart and keep them from building here. Some versions say the city opposed the Walmart to protect our local Kmart store while others say it was done to protect local businesses. Whatever version is told, they all tell a tale of a giant multi-national cooperation being insulted and shut out of Peru by our local business owners and government officials with Walmart vowing never to build a store in Peru. But is any of it true?

One local businessman has had his fill with the tall tales and wants to set the record straight. Dave Van Baalen owns several local businesses including the Roxy Theatre which sits on the site that Wal-Mart was interested in buying in the late 80s and early 90s.

At the time Walmart wanted to build here, the land where the Roxy sits was owned by Russ Beller, who has worked with Van Baalen in many business ventures over the years.

Photo of Peru Kmart location

Peru, IN - Sears/Kmart has told employees earlier this week that 80 Sears and Kmart locations across the US will shut by March, with liquidation sales to begin in early January 2019. The Peru Kmart was among the locations announced for closure.

This comes after the announcement that 142 store closures when the company filed for bankruptcy in October 2018 and another round of 40 closures in November 2018.

Peru Indiana Today attempted to contact the manager of the Peru Kmart location and was advised that employees have been instructed not to comment on the closure.

Unemployment graphic.

INDIANAPOLIS  – Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.6 percent for November and remains lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent. With the exception of one month when it was equal (October 2014), Indiana's unemployment rate now has been below the U.S. rate for more than five years. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.

Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 2,216 over the previous month. This was a result of a 2,122 increase in unemployed residents and an increase of 94 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.40 million, and the state’s 65.1 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 62.9 percent.

Learn more about how unemployment rates are calculated here: http://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/infographics/employment-status.asp