Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for April dropped a tenth of a point to 1.9%, tied for the lowest in the nation while breaking the all-time Nebraska record set in March and tying the all-time record low for any state.
Nebraska’s jobless rate was under 2% several times last year, but the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics last month revised previously released data for all states, including monthly unemployment rates, which pushed those months back over 2%.
The April rate for Omaha was 2.1%, down a half a point for the month and a full point from last year while Lincoln came in at 1.8% to improve 3-10ths from March and 6-10ths below a year ago.
Grand Island was also under 2% at 1.9%, down 5-10ths of a point for the month and 8-10ths of a point for the year.
The Scottsbluff micropolitan statistical area, which includes Scotts Bluff, Sioux, and Banner counties, had a 2.1% unemployment rate. That’s 3-10ths of a month lower than March and 6-10ths of a point under last year.
State unemployment numbers are adjusted for seasonal factors while local numbers aren’t, making comparisons meaningless.
State Labor Commissioner John Albin says not only did Nebraska have a record low unemployment rate, it also had a record high number of employed workers – continuing a pattern started last July. Both Lincoln and Omaha set records in April.
Statewide nonfarm employment, which counts filled jobs, was 1,028,675 in April – up 10,245 from March and 25,052 from last April.
Private industry sectors adding the most jobs from March were Mining and Construction with 2,957 more while Leisure and Hospitality were up 2,664.
The biggest increases over the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities with 7,262 more jobs and Leisure and Hospitality, which was up 5,828.
The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was unchanged from March at 3.6%, down 2.4-points from last April.