Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate in March dropped a tenth of a point to an even 2%, tied for the lowest rate in the country.
That’s 6-10ths of a point lower than a year ago, and matches the lowest for the state since unemployment data began in 1976.
Nebraska had been under 2% several times in the past 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 jobless rate in Omaha dropped 1-10th of a point from February to 2.6%, down 9-10ths of a point from last March, while the Lincoln rate of 2.1% is unchanged for the month and a full point better than a year ago.
Grand Island had a 2.4% rate in March, also the same as in February and 8-10ths lower than last year. The Scottsbluff micropolitan statistical area came in at 2.4%, falling a tenth for the month and 6-10ths of a point for the year.
The statewide jobless rate is adjusted for season factors while the local rates are not, making comparisons of the two meaningless.
Labor Commissioner John Albin says the number of people employed in Nebraska reached another record high in March at 1,035,823. Lincoln also set a record at 186,996 people working.
Nonfarm employment, which counts the number of filled jobs and not the number of people with jobs, reached 1,017,795 for an increase of 4,568 from February and 24,891 more than last March.
Private industry categories with the most job growth for the month were Mining and Construction with 1,842 more, Leisure and Hospitality was up 1,484 and Trade, Transportation, and utilities rose by 1,364 jobs..
Showing the most growth in filled jobs over the past 12 months was Leisure and Hospitality with 6,763. Gaining 6,419 jobs were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, while Education and Health Services added 3,434