Indiana Now Gaining Jobs

February 2004 preliminary estimates of nonfarm payroll jobs from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development show Indiana gaining jobs over the same time a year ago (see Table 1). Between February 2003 and February 2004 (preliminary data), Indiana had an increase of 23,400 new jobs.

February estimates for other states were not available at press time. However, comparisons of January 2003 to January 2004 data show similar job gains for Indiana, whether using seasonally adjusted data (10,000 new jobs) or not (15,400 new jobs). Indiana ranks among the top states in job growth over this time period (see Figure 1), with the only other Midwestern state in that group being Wisconsin (20,500). Michigan (-73,100), Ohio (-46,500), and Illinois (-60,400) continue to lose jobs.