Published: September 19, 2008 11:22 pm      

County jobless rate at 8.5 percent

Howard County's seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell 0.7 percent from July to August, the state Department of Workforce Development said today. But at 8.5 percent, it still is sixth highest among Indiana's 92 counties.

Miami and Tipton counties weren't much lower in August -- 8.3 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively.

Kokomo' August unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, 0.2 percent lower than in July. Among Hoosier cities with populations over 25,000, Kokomo's jobless rate was fourth highest, trailing just East Chicago, Elkhart and Marion.

Unemployment in Indiana was 6.4 percent in August. Nationally, 6.1 percent were jobless last month.