The national rate was down from 6.2 percent one year ago.
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Indiana’s unemployment rate is now significantly lower than the national rate of 5.3 percent and the rates in all surrounding states.
South Carolina’s jobless rate was 6.4 percent in July, according to the Department of Employment and Workforce.
“Once again we see a substantial increase in nonfarm employment compared to a year ago”, said state Labor Commissioner John Albin.
Hourly wages in Indiana also dipped by 0.2 percent past year when adjusted for inflation, while U.S. hourly earnings rose by 1.3 percent.
In July, statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate declines occurred in Connecticut and Hawaii (-0.3 percentage point each) and New York and North Dakota (-0.1 point each). West Virginia, at 7.5 percent, had the highest unemployment rate among the states.
There have been some announcements of job losses recently, most notably the closing of the Tyson plant in Denison, which leaves 400 people out of work.
In Anderson County, the rate fell to 5.9 percent from 6.2 percent. West Virginia had the highest at 7.5 percent.
In the last month, hospitality jobs grew by 2,100.
Mississippi showed strong July payroll growth, as the state’s unemployment rate kept falling.
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Local government was the sector gaining the most jobs at 21,200. A year earlier, there were 741,000 discouraged workers. The proposed changes would require jobless workers to contact at least five employers a week to continue receiving benefits, up from two under current law.
