FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO: February unemployment numbers are out for Indiana.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development reports that Indiana‘s jobless figure dropped one-tenth of a percent from 6.0% in January to 5.9% in February. Spokesman Joe Frank says the state‘s economy added 1,700 new jobs led mainly by private educational and health services, manufacturing and the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Indiana‘s unemployment rate remains higher the national rate of 5.5% for February. Frank says that‘s because in the past few years, Indiana has seen a big increase of about 80,000 people returning to the labor force. That‘s an indication that people are more optimistic about their job prospects.

Frank says the state has added about 268,000 private sector jobs – 90,000 in manufacturing – in the past few years following the economic downturn back in 2008. Indiana remains among the top ten states for job creation.

Frank says they expect the labor force and private sector job growth trends to continue.