Unemployment rates jumped to start the year in most of the region as seasonal job losses played a major part in the increase.
According to labor force estimates released this morning by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, unemployment in Jay County increased by .4 percentage points to 10.5 percent.
That figure is down from the six-month ago rate of 12.1 percent but above the year-ago rate of 9.7 percent.
On the state level, the seasonally-adjusted rate remained unchanged at 9.7 percent. That figure is somewhat deceiving, however, since the unadjusted rate climbed from 9.7 percent to 10.6.
Estimates for counties are released as unadjusted figures.
Jay County Development Corp. executive director Bill Bradley said he's continuing to hear local industries are replacing employees as they leave or in some cases calling back more workers to fill shifts.
"I see some stability," he said in terms of employment.
