Nebraska’s Unemployment Rate Stays the Same for Third Consecutive Month

LINCOLN–(KFOR/News Release Nov. 19)–The Nebraska Department of Labor on Wednesday announced the state’s unemployment rate for October was at 2.7%, the same rate for the third straight month, but up from the 2.5% in October 2023.

State Labor officials say Nebraska is still ranked high for one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Nebraska is fifth lowest in the nation for unemployment.

“Total nonfarm employment reached an all-time high in October at 1,085,139,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin.  “That is an increase of over 4,000 filled jobs from the prior high in June of this year.”

The counts of employed and unemployed in the labor force are based on a survey conducted by the Census Bureau regarding employment status. Individuals who are claiming unemployment benefits and those who are not claiming unemployment benefits can be counted as unemployed based on their survey responses.  Individuals who are not working and are not seeking work are not considered part of the labor force and are not included in the unemployment rate calculation.

Nonfarm employment was up 7,298 over the month and up 22,738 over the year. Private education and health services reached a record high of 172,155 and increased 8,321 from October 2023. Other private industries with the most over-the-year growth were manufacturing (up 3,846 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (up 2,543 jobs).  Private industries with the most growth month to month were private education and health services (up 2,217 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (up 1,587 jobs); and mining and construction (up 556 jobs).