Hoosier State Achieves Historic Employment Record

Since January 2013, Indiana has added 121,900 new jobs, averaging 3,900 new Hoosier jobs each month over the last two years. Additionally, the state’s unemployment rate decreased for the fourth consecutive month, now standing at 4.7 percent. This rate is the lowest amongst Indiana’s neighboring states as well as the national rate of 5.3 percent.

Governor Mike Pence issued the following statement today:

“Every Hoosier should be encouraged by the news that we have more people going to work than ever before in our state’s history. This achievement belongs to the hard-working people of Indiana and to the businesses, large and small, whose hard work and ingenuity achieved this historic milestone.

“From day one of my administration, we made job creation job one and aimed to get more Hoosiers working than ever before by 2016. We committed to strengthening Indiana’s economy and our workforce, while implementing policies that will bring good jobs and provide opportunity to Hoosiers. We cut taxes for working families and job creators. We cut government red tape. We signed honestly balanced budgets that hold the line on spending while making significant investments in education, infrastructure and our workforce.

“And thanks to hardworking Hoosiers for their resilience, character and the entrepreneurial spirit they bring to work each and every day, Indiana has achieved this goal and set a new record for private sector employment.

“While this milestone is worth celebrating, I believe that as long as any Hoosier is looking for work or struggling to make ends meet, our work is not done.

“Indiana continues to grow stronger and together we can build on this momentum. To take job growth and our economy to new heights, I believe we must continue to live within our means, look for ways to let working Hoosiers keep more of what they earn, cut government red tape and make sound investments in the education of our kids, our workforce and the infrastructure that makes Indiana the Crossroads of America.”

This news comes on the heels of recent job creation plans across Indiana. Earlier this month, Illinois-based Hoist Liftruck announced plans to expand its operations into the Hoosier State, creating up to 500 new jobs in East Chicago, while Austria-based tech firm Emarsys will invest $3.2 million to locate its North American headquarters in Indianapolis, adding up to 167 new high-wage jobs. In Bristol, RV parts manufacturer Talon Products is creating 120 new jobs and medical device supplier Banner Medical is constructing its first Indiana facility in Warsaw. 

Last month, Cook Pharmica announced plans to expand its biopharmaceutical operations in Bloomington, investing $28 million and adding 70 new Hoosier jobs. And in Knox County, Franklin Well Services is the newest resident of Indiana’s First Main Street in Vincennes, recently relocating its headquarters from Illinois to Vincennes, with plans to add more than 90 new high-wage jobs.

So far this year, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is setting a record pace for economic growth, with more than 200 companies already committed to creating more than 17,000 new Hoosier jobs and investing more than $3 billion in their Indiana operations in the coming years. These jobs are expected to pay an average hourly wage of $25.86, which is a 15 percent increase from the agency’s projects in 2014 and tops both the current state wage and the national average wage. 

About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, focusing on helping companies grow in and locate to the state. Governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov. 
 

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Media Contacts: 
Abby Gras (IEDC) – 317.232.8845 or [email protected]