New study says Hoosiers dislike jobs more than most as jobless rate trends up

Just as a new study places Indiana ninth among the 50 states where people are unhappiest about their jobs, the latest unemployment figures are trending up for both the state and the county.

With a 4.7 percent unemployment rate for July, Putnam County ranks in the top half of the state’s 92 counties in a tie for 44th with Knox, Washington, Jefferson, Jay, Harrison, Fulton, DeKalb and Adams. One of the county’s better rankings for 2024, the 4.7 percent jobless rate is higher than normal, as is the overall Indiana unemployment rate of 5.0 percent.

Although that’s a jump in jobless rate over June, it was a rise in the rankings from the 57th spot Putnam posted in the sixth month when the overall Indiana rate was 4.4 percent.

For the job happiness survey, digital marketing agency Hennessey Digital analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the rate of workers quitting their jobs per month in each state. The states with the highest percentage of people leaving their job in March 2024 determined the ranking.

No. 1 was Alaska with 4.5 percent of workers quitting their jobs in March 2024. The month saw approximately 15,000 people leave their jobs in Alaska – an increase of 4,000 workers compared to March 2023 when 11,000 people quit.

Second place went to Wyoming, with 3.4 percent of the workforce quitting their jobs in March 2024. The state experienced approximately 10,000 people leaving their jobs that month, which is 1,000 more than in March 2023.

Ranking third is Montana, at 3.0 percent of workers quitting in March 2024 as Montana saw approximately 16,000 workers resign from their profession. This is a decrease of 1,000 workers compared to March 2023.

With 2.9 percent of its workers quitting their jobs in March 2024, Idaho is fourth. The month saw approximately 25,000 people leave their jobs in Idaho – an equal number of quitters compared to March 2023.

Tied for fifth are Florida and West Virginia, with 2.8 percent of the workforce in both states leaving their jobs in March 2024. During the month, Florida saw approximately 273,000 people quit their jobs, while West Virginia saw approximately 20,000.

Tennessee comes in sixth, with 2.6 percent of the workforce handing in their resignation in March 2024. Over the course of the month, Tennessee saw approximately 88,000 workers resign from their profession. This is a decrease of 11,000 workers compared to March 2023.

Seventh on the list are Delaware, Kansas and North Dakota, with 2.5 percent of workers quitting their jobs in March 2024. The month saw approximately 37,000 people leave their jobs in Kansas, 12,000 in Delaware and 11,000 in North Dakota.

There were a total of seven states tying for eighth place, with 2.4 percent of the workforce quitting their jobs in March 2024. An additional seven states -- including Indiana -- tied for ninth place, with 2.3 percent of the workforce leaving their jobs, while another seven states came in 10th, with 2.2 percent of people resigning in March 2024.

At the opposite end of the spectrum came Washington, Pennsylvania and California with 1.5 percent of workers in all three states handing in their resignation in March 2024.

“From the results, it’s clear to see that a steady stream of workers across America are constantly leaving their jobs, be it for retirement or a different career,” CEO at Hennessey.com Jason Hennessey commented. “Louisiana experienced one of the largest changes, with an impressive 36 percent decrease in quitters between 2023 and 2024. It’ll be interesting to see if new states make the top 10 ranking in the future.”

Meanwhile, back in Indiana and using July numbers, the latest Putnam figure ranks ahead of contiguous counties Owen (5.3) and Clay (4.8) with Hendricks (4.0 percent, tied for 12th overall), Montgomery (4.1 percent, tied for 16th best in the state) and Morgan (4.2 percent, tied for 20th) all posting better jobless figures than Putnam for the month.

Among the seven west-central Indiana counties for July, Putnam trails Parke County (4.4) but ranks ahead of all the others -- Clay (4.8), Sullivan (5.1), Owen (5.3), Vigo (5.6) and Vermillion (6.2).

Overall, Indiana’s top 10 best jobless ratings for July are: 1. Martin (3.6), 2. Dubois, Clinton and Benton (3.7), 5. Rush, Posey, Hamilton, Daviess and Boone (3.8), 10. White and Gibson (3.9).

Meanwhile, the bottom 10 unemployment figures among Hoosier counties for July are: 1. Howard (7.0 percent), 2. Fayette (6.9), 3. Huntington (6.7), 4. Blackford and Lake (6.6), 6. Delaware (6.3), 7. Vermillion (6.2), 8. Allen 6.0). 9. Grant and Greene (5.8).