Indiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent in September, down from 8.3 percent in August.

This marks the first decline in the rate since April. Indiana also recorded its first increase in the labor force in seven months, signaling more Hoosiers may be encouraged by strong job growth throughout the year and are again looking for work.

While Indiana’s rate of unemployment decreased in September, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Hoosier state shed 6,000 private sector jobs, the first monthly decline in nearly a year. Despite September losses, private sector jobs in Indiana have grown by more than 43,000 in 2012 and continue to outpace the national rate of growth for the year (1.8 percent verses 1.2 percent).

“I find it particularly encouraging that Hoosiers are returning to the labor force,” said Scott Sanders, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “Indiana also continues to outpace the nation in rate of private sector job growth and state continued unemployment insurance claims are at their lowest level since 2000.”

Employment sectors in Indiana that continue to exceed the national rate of growth in 2012 include manufacturing (2.8 percent versus 1.1 percent), private educational and health services (2.3 percent versus 1.6 percent), construction (4.0 percent versus -0.4 percent) and leisure and hospitality (2.2 percent versus 1.5 percent).