Published: November 18, 2009 01:18 pm      

City’s jobless rate on the rise

Goshen’s unemployment rate rose for the first time in seven months during October according to new data released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development on Friday.

In September, unemployment in the city was at 13.9 percent, continuing a downward trend that started in April, when it hit 18.6 percent, just lower than its peak of 18.9 percent in January. In October, the rate increased to 14.4 percent.

Thanks to a .4 percent decrease in Elkhart, however, overall county unemployment dropped to 14.9 percent, its lowest since November 2008. Despite the drop, Elkhart County remains at the top of the unemployment rankings for the state, followed up by Noble County at 14.7 percent and LaGrange County at 14.4 percent. Kosciusko County lands farther down the list with 10.9 percent, tying two other counties.

In total, 50 counties saw an increase in their rate, 35 had a decrease and seven stayed the same.

The state unemployment rate saw a miniscule increase, climbing from 9.7 to 9.8 percent, while the national unemployment rate reached double digits, increasing to 10.2 percent.