The 0.3 percent drop in the state’s unemployment rate in March—to 8.5 percent, as reported on Tuesday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development—was bettered last month by most areas in Northwest Indiana.

Meanwhile, Chesterton still had the lowest jobless rate in the region.

In Porter County the preliminary seasonally unadjusted rate in March fell by half a point, to 7.9 percent from 8.5 percent in February (9.8 percent in March 2010). Across Porter County 6,325 people were looking for work in March, compared to 6,786 in February, a decrease of 6.8 percent (a decrease of 19.0 percent since March 2010).

In Lake County the unemployment rate in March fell by nearly half a point, to 9.6 percent from 10.0 percent in February (11.4 percent in March 2010). In LaPorte County the unemployment rate in March dropped by better than half a point, to 10.6 percent from 11.2 percent in February (13.2 percent in March 2010).

In Chesterton the unemployment rate in March similarly fell by more than half a point, to 7.1 percent—the lowest in the region—from 7.7 percent in February (10.0 percent in March 2010). A total of 457 people was looking for work in March, compared to 491 in February, a decrease of 6.9 percent (a decrease of 28.9 percent since March 2010).

In Valparaiso the unemployment rate in March dropped by exactly half a point, to 7.3 percent from 7.8 percent in February (9.0 percent in March 2010). A total of 1,094 people was looking for work in March, compared to 1,158 in February, a decrease of 5.5 percent (a decrease of 18.6 percent since March 2010).

In Portage the unemployment rate in March also dropped by more than half a point, to 9.6 percent from 10.2 percent in February (11.3 percent in March 2010). A total of 1,703 people was looked for work in March, compared to 1,794 in February, a decrease of 5.0 percent (a decrease of 14.5 percent since March 2010).

Unemployment elsewhere in March:

•In Gary the rate actually rose to 10.5 percent from 10.3 percent in February (11.6 in March 2010).

•In East Chicago the rate remained stable, 12.7 percent, the same as in February (14.0 percent in March 2010).

•In Hammond the rate dropped by more than half a point, to 9.9 percent from 10.6 percent in February (12.9 percent in March 2010).

•In Michigan City the rate dipped to 11.2 percent from 11.5 percent in February (12.8 percent in March 2010).

•In LaPorte the rate fell by half a point, to 10.9 percent from 11.4 percent in February (14.0 percent in March 2010).

The official national unemployment rate in March fell marginally in March to 8.8 percent from 8.9 percent in February (10.2 percent in March 2010).

But—according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—if “discouraged workers,” “all other marginally attached workers,” and “total employed part-time for economic reasons” are included in the tally, the unofficial unemployment rate in March was 15.7 percent, down from 15.9 percent in February.

“Marginally attached workers” are those “who indicate that they want a job, have looked for work in the last 12 months (or since the last time they worked if they worked in the last 12 months), and are available for work.

“Discouraged workers” are not currently looking for work for several reasons, including their belief that no job is available to them in their line of work or in their area.

“Persons employed part-time for economic reasons” are those “who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.”

Posted 4/20/2011