The Hoosier labor force shrank for the second month in a row.

Indiana's unemployment rate dropped last month to its lowest level in more than 16 years. Yet the private sector lost a significant number of jobs in April.

Indiana's unemployment rate declined despite March's private sector job losses.

Indiana's unemployment rate fell to 4 percent last month, its lowest level in more than 15 years.

The rate stayed at 4.5 percent last month. That's still its lowest level in nearly a year and lower than all of its neighboring states.

The state's private sector added 5,600 jobs in August.

Indiana's unemployment rate is lower than the national average and all neighboring states, except for Michigan.

The state's private sector added about 8,500 jobs in June, the third consecutive month of increases.

But even with the job growth, the state's unemployment rate increased for the third consecutive month.

Indiana's private sector added nearly 7,000 jobs last month. Yet the unemployment rate climbed a tenth of a percent to 4.7 percent, its highest level since June.