Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for October rose 2-10ths of a point to a seasonally-adjusted 2.4%.
That’s the same as a year ago and tied for 5th lowest in the country with New Hampshire and South Dakota. It’s also 1.3-points lower than the national jobless rate, which also rose 2-10ths of a point from September.
The unemployment rate for Omaha was also 2.2%, an increase of 2-10ths of a point and the same as last year, while rates for Lincoln and Grand Island both rose a tenth of a point for both the month and the year to 2% and 2.1%, respectively.
The jobless rate for the Scottsbluff micropolitan statistical area was 2.4%, up 2-10ths of a point for the month and year. The state unemployment rate is adjusted for seasonal factors while the local rates aren’t, making comparisons meaningless.
While the unemployment rate did go up, State Labor Commissioner John Albin says total nonfarm employment still rose by 8,448 from Sept and 28,106 for the year to a record high of 1,044,832 or more than 2,000 filled jobs over the old record set in June.
The private industry sectors with the most new jobs for the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 3,121); Education and Health Services (up 1,862); and mining and construction (up 1,385).
      Showing the most growth since last October were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 6,020); Leisure and Hospitality (up 5,490); and Education and health services (up 4,657).     Â
Over one million Nebraskans have been employed every month for more than 2 years, last dipping below a million in July 2020.