Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.5% for the 9th straight month in May. That’s 4-10ths of a point higher than a year ago, but still the 4th-lowest rate in the country behind North Dakota’s 2.1%.
It’s also well under the national jobless rate for May of an even 4%, which rose a tenth of point from April and is 3-10ths higher than last year.
Nebraska’s 3 metropolitan areas were all 4-10ths of a point higher in May than 12 months earlier. Omaha was up 2-10th from April at 2.8%, Lincoln’s rate rose 4-10ths to 2.5%, and Grand Island also came in at 2.5% for an increase of 3-10ths of a point.
The Scottsbluff micropolitan statistical area was unchanged for the month at 2.9%, which is 3-10ths higher than last year. State jobless rates are adjusted for seasonal factors while local rates aren’t, making comparisons between the two meaningless.
Nebraska Commissioner of Labor John Albin sees plenty of positive numbers in the state’s May report, led by another all-time high in total non-farm employment – a count of filled jobs – with all 3 metro areas posting record highs.
Non-farm employment rose 11,610 jobs from April to reach 1,077,200. That’s 25,264 more jobs than last May.
The private industry sectors with the most growth for the month were Leisure and Hospitality with 4,306 more jobs, Private Education and Health Services (up 1,707); and Mining and Construction (up 1,451 jobs).
Sectors adding the most jobs over the past year were Private Education and Health Services with 8,160. Leisure and Hospitality and Manufacturing sector also showed strong growth by adding 4,257 and 4,127 jobs respectively.