State Unemployment Rate Remains Steady in September

Release Date: 10/18/2019

The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) announced today that Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for September was 3.1 percent, seasonally adjusted. The rate was unchanged from the August 2019 rate of 3.1 percent.  The unemployment rate is up 0.4 percentage points from the September 2018 rate of 2.7 percent. 

“Statewide, the labor force and employment levels were record highs again,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin.  “Nonfarm industry employment followed normal seasonal patterns. Over the month, the largest gains were in local government due to the start of the school year.”

Nonfarm employment was 1,034,541 in September, up by 8,410 over the year and up by 1,190 over the month. Private industries with the most growth year over year were mining and construction (up 3,055), professional and business services (up 1,474) and and education and health (up 1,118).  Month to month, the largest gains were seen in education and health (up 315), and other services (up 234).

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 3.5 percent, down by 0.2 percentage points from the August 2019 rate of 3.7 percent and down 0.2 percentage points from the September 2018 rate of 3.7 percent.

For more September 2019 data, go to dol.nebraska.gov/InfoLink.  Nonfarm employment data can be found at NEworks.nebraska.gov/CES and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data can be found at NEworks.nebraska.gov/LAUS.

October 2019 Nebraska data will be published Tuesday, November 19, 2019.