Nebraska unemployment rate rises slightly, U.S. unemployment rate rises slightly

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s unemployment rate edged up last month, while the national unemployment rate edged down, according to preliminary and seasonally adjusted data Data release Friday.

Nebraska’s unemployment rate was 2.7% in August, up 0.1 percentage point from 2.6% in July.

this national unemployment rate It was 4.2%, down 0.1 percentage points from 4.3% in July.

Nebraska is tied with Mississippi for the fifth-lowest unemployment rate in the nation.

John Albin, Nebraska Labor Commissioner (Courtesy Department of Labor)

South Dakota had the lowest rate at 2.0%, followed by Vermont at 2.2%, North Dakota at 2.3%, and New Hampshire at 2.6%.

“An increase in the number of new entrants and re-entrants to the labor force (people still looking for work) this month is a driving factor in the increase in the unemployment rate,” Labor Commissioner John Albin said.

Employment and unemployment numbers in the labor force are based on U.S. Census Bureau surveys. Based on survey responses, both individuals receiving unemployment benefits and individuals not receiving unemployment benefits can be counted as unemployed.

Individuals who are not working and not looking for work are not considered part of the labor force and are not included in the unemployment rate calculation.

Nebraska’s non-agricultural employment opportunities reached 1,071,382, a decrease of 2,300 from the previous month and an increase of 21,696 from the previous year. The fastest-growing private industries over the year were private education and medical services, which added 8,024 jobs; manufacturing added 4,184 jobs.

Nationally, the District of Columbia has the highest unemployment rate at 5.7%. Followed by Nevada (5.5%), Illinois and California (both 5.3%).

Latest Nebraska labor force data, seasonally adjusted. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)

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