Indiana’s unemployment held steady for the second consecutive month in November, 3.2 percent.

The rate hasn’t gotten worse since March.

An unemployment rate at 3.2 percent – the same since September – is the lowest Indiana’s had since December 2000. And it’s better than every neighboring state by nearly a full percentage point.

Good news too in the Indiana labor force, which grew – albeit slightly – in November. The labor force counts both people with a job and those actively looking for one, which is why economists often view growth in the labor force as a sign of optimism in the economy. Indiana’s has now improved two months in a row.

Still, Indiana has lost about 9,000 total jobs this year, which puts it on track to lose jobs overall in a calendar year for the first time in a decade.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.