More than 500 people are already scheduled to lose jobs to layoffs and site closures in the first half of next year as experts predict a recession. That can be a pretty scary outlook, but new preliminary labor market estimates tell a more complicated story.

Some companies are still expanding operations and hiring in Indiana despite the current tight labor market and warning signs of an economic downturn. E-commerce packing and shipping company Radial is one example.

The total number of employed people in Indiana hit a decade high in July, new preliminary federal estimates show. At the same time, the state's unemployed population increased slightly.

The past few months has given workers more power in the labor market. In June, Indiana had about four active job seekers for every 10 job openings, according to new federal estimates released Thursday.

The closure could put 1,132 people out of work. Of the 2,089 employed at warehouse before the fire, 957 have accepted new positions with the company.

Indiana recorded a 2.2 percent unemployment rate in March. It's the third-lowest rate in the country and yet another record low for the state.

Indiana's unemployment rate hit record lows for the third straight month in February at 2.3 percent as the state also recorded the highest number of people working in a private-sector job.

Indiana continues to break state records for low unemployment as it fell to just 2.4 percent in January. But there's a flip side to that statistic: the rate of Hoosiers 16 and older participating in the workforce stayed flat.

Lawmakers aim to address nursing shortages. Indiana surpasses 21,000 dead. And statewide COVID-19 cases continue to drop.

The Elkhart-Goshen metropolitan area has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other areas in Indiana also have a historically very low level of jobless workers.