The unemployment rate in the Fort Wayne metro area was 2.5% last month, a slight increase from the 2.3% reported a year ago, according to preliminary data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The data shows that the metro area had a labor pool of 221,005 people, with 5,596 unemployed in December, compared to 5,063 unemployed a year ago. The Fort Wayne metro area consists of Allen, Wells, and Whitley counties.

Statewide, the unemployment rate in December was 2.8%, or 3.6% when seasonally adjusted, which contrasts with a rate of 2.6% or 3.1% when adjusted a year ago. Using year-to-year comparisons for the same month provides a clearer understanding of the job market considering seasonal hiring fluctuations.

Among Indiana’s 92 counties, Howard County had the highest unemployment rate last month, at 6.4%, while Daviess County recorded the lowest, at 1.9%. On a national scale, unemployment in December was 3.5%, or 3.7% when seasonally adjusted, compared to 3.3%, or 3.5% when adjusted in December 2022.