Historically, Putnam County is a regional employment center.  Local firms primarily draw their workforce from the seven county area including and surrounding Putnam County.  Below is average annual data for the past several years.

AREA	LABOR FORCE	EMPLOYED	UNEMPLOYED	RATE
Putnam County
1996	16,620	16,010	610	3.7%
1997	16,570	15,990	580	3.5%
1998	16,460	16,070	390	2.4%
1999	16,720	16,400	320	1.9%
2000	17,190	16,710	480	2.8%
2001	17,350	16,710	640	3.7%
2002	17,350	16,470	880	5.1%
2003	19,150	18,340	810	4.2%
2004	17,780	16,820	960	5.4%
2005	17,950	16,760	1,190	6.6%
Seven County Area
1996	149,575	144,615	4,960	3.3%
1997	152,225	147,640	4,585	3.0%
1998	153,435	149,545	3,890	2.5%
1999	154,825	151,025	3,800	2.5%
2000	162,225	158,225	4,000	2.5%
2001	165,370	159,720	5,650	3.4%
2002	168,060	160,515	7,545	4.5%
2003	167,985	160,460	7,525	4.5%
2004	172,775	165,000	7,775	4.5%
2005	176,690	168,010	8,680	4.9%
Source: STATS Infiana and Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Data from 2000 and later reflect 2000 Census inputs, new model controls, and methodological changes. Updated April, 2006

Commuting Patterns

1997 through 2003 state income tax return information indicates that approximately 28% of the Putnam County workforce commutes out-of-county for employment.  Below are estimates of the number of persons commuting into and out of the county for work.

	PERSONS THAT LIVE AND WORK IN THE COUNTY	PERSONS  COMMUTING OUT OF COUNTY	PERSONS COMMUTING INTO COUNTY
1997	15,342	5,977	3,134
1998	15,406	6,195	3,246
1999	15,254	6,417	3,319
2000	15,351	6,545	3,797
2001	14,707	6,124	3,528
2002	15,528	6,435	3,993
2003	15,577	6,364	4,036
2004	15,986	6,337	4,045

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