Yet the Hoosier unemployment rate only managed to hold steady, despite those positive metrics.

The labor force is a measure that counts, not only those who have a job, but also those actively looking for one. It’s often viewed as a barometer for the economy – growth shows people are optimistic, decline is a negative sign. And Indiana’s labor force has grown for eight consecutive months.

The state’s private sector increased jobs for the third consecutive month after a 2,500-person boost in September.

But the Indiana unemployment rate remains at 3.5 percent. It’s been seven months since the rate went down – the longest stretch without a decline in more than five years.