Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate was unchanged in May, staying at a seasonally-adjusted 1.9%.
That’s down 6-10ths of a point from last May and the lowest rate in the country. It also again matches the all-time low rate for Nebraska and any state.
The jobless rate for Lincoln was also 1.9%, which is actually a tenth of a point higher than April but half a point lower than a year ago. Omaha came in at 2.1%, the same as in April and 8-10ths of a point under last year.
Grand Island’s unemployment rate rose half a point to 2.4%, which is 2-10ths lower than last May. The Scottsbluff micropolitan statistical area of Scotts Bluff, Sioux, and Banner counties was 2,1%, unchanged for the month and 6-10ths lower for the year.
The state jobless numbers are adjusted for seasonal factors while the local rates aren’t, making comparisons meaningless.
Nebraska Labor Commissioner John Albin says May was Nebraska’s 11th straight month of historically-high employment levels with over a million residents having jobs each month since August 2020.
Omaha set an employment record for the second straight month and Lincoln for the third consecutive month.
Nonfarm employment, a count of filled jobs, was 1,033,486 in May, up 4,693 for the month and up 21,829 over the year.
Private industry sectors with the most growth from April to May were leisure and hospitality (up 1,647), and education and health services (up 1,080).
Those with the most growth over the past 12 months are education and health services (up 5,096); trade, transportation, and utilities (up 4,848); and leisure and hospitality (up 4,154).
Nebraska has the lowest unemployment rate, but not the lowest poverty rate.
The last time Nebraska increased its minimum wage was in 2008, when we raised it to $9.00 an hour.
If you adjust for inflation, $9.00 in 2008 is the same as $12.22 in 2022.
Raise the minimum wage! This is the richest country in the world. All Americans deserve a decent wage.