Indiana’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for December 2009 increased 0.3 percent to 9.9 percent, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported today.

“Indiana and its Midwest neighbors each reported increases or remained virtually flat in December,” said Teresa Voors, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. “The two largest factors in the December Employment Report are a drop in construction employment, possibly attributed to the weather, and an increase in the number of unemployment claims following eight straight months of decline.”

Seasonally-adjusted total non-farm employment in Indiana fell by 7,900 in December. Sectors reporting employment declines include: Construction (-4,200), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-2,500), Leisure and Hospitality (-1,400), and Manufacturing (-1,100). Financial Activities (+1,500) and Professional and Business Services (+1,200) both report employment gains

Indiana and Ohio each posted 0.3 percent increases in December. Ohio’s unemployment rate now stands at 10.9 percent. Illinois increased 0.2 percent to 11.1 percent. Kentucky increased 0.1 percent to 10.7 percent. Michigan’s unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percent to 14.6 percent.

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged in December at 10.0 percent.

Indiana’s unemployment rate stood at 7.8 percent in December 2008.