Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for November rose a tenth of a point to a seasonally adjusted 2.3%.
That’s the 5th lowest rate in the nation, tied with New Hampshire and trailing only Maryland, the Dakotas, and Vermont. It’s also 4-10ths of a point lower than a year ago and well under the national rate of 3.7%
The unemployment rate for Omaha was 2.3%, down 3-10ths of a point from October and 1-10th under last year, while Lincoln came in at 1.9% for a drop of 3-10ths of a point for both the month and year.
Grand Island’s jobless rate of an even 2% was 3-10ths of a point lower than October and 2-10ths under a year ago with the Scottsbluff Micropolitan Statistical Area at 2.3%, 2-10ths of a point better for the month and 3-10ths for the year.
State figures are adjusted for seasonal factors while local numbers are not, making comparisons between them meaningless.
Nebraska Commissioner of Labor John Albin says the state continues to show job growth as average monthly covered employment surpassed one million for the first time at 1,013,004
Nonfarm employment, a count of all filled jobs, also continues to trend upward at 1,054,827. That’s an increase of 1,595 for the month and 11,134 since last November.
Private industries sectors with the most growth since October were trade, transportation, and utilities (up 2,518 jobs); and private education and health services (up 2,271 jobs).
Sectors with the most growth over the year were private education and health services (up 6,451 jobs), manufacturing (up 1,792 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (up 1,551 jobs).