The Indiana Department of Workforce Development has identified the hottest industries in the state.

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The latest statistics show that construction, manufacturing, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality are the hottest job sectors right now. This is based on figures from May 2011 to May 2012. For that time period, construction was up 7.5% adding 8,800 jobs; Manufacturing was up 4.8% adding 22,000 jobs; Professional & Business Services was up 4.2% adding 12,100 jobs; and the Leisure and Hospitality sector added 10,700 jobs.

Ball State University Economist Dr. Michael Hicks says the figures are proof that Indiana's economy is rebounding well even as the overall U.S. economy remains sluggish. Hicks says large growth in the manufacturing sector is the engine driving the state's continued recovery. Hicks says the jobs appear to be permanent. He believes if the surge continues, the state jobless rate could drop significantly.

Finally, Hicks says manufacturing production appears to be one of the best hopes for job seekers, particularly younger workers seeking out well paying jobs.