     Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for May dropped a tenth of a point to 1.9%, matching New Hampshire and South Dakota for the lowest rate in the country.
It’s 2-tenths of a point lower than last year and just over half the national rate of 3.7%.
    Nebraska Labor Commissioner John Albin says 1.9% is a historical low for the state while the total of filled nonfarm jobs is a record high at 1,044,702 – topping the old record set last November by 1,009.
The May jobless rate in both Lincoln and Omaha actually rose. The Lincoln rate was up 3-10ths of a point from April at 2%, a tenth of a point more than last year, while Omaha was at 2.2%, up 2-10ths of a point for the month and the same as a year ago
      Grand Island’s unemployment rate also went up 2-10ths of a point at 2.%, but that’s 6-10ths of a point better than last May. The Scottsbluff micropolitan statistical area came in at 2.2% or 2-10ths of point more than both last month and last year.
State figures are adjusted for seasonal factors while local rates aren’t, making direct comparisons between the two types meaningless.
Nonfarm employment in Nebraska grew 1,985 from April to May and by 18,549 since last May. The private industry sectors with the most growth for the month were Leisure and Hospitality (up 1,783), Private Education and Health Services (up 1,141).
They were also the leaders for yearly growth, but in reverse order with Private Education and Health Services adding 6,376 jobs, followed by Leisure and Hospitality with 4,950 more jobs.