LINCOLN — Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate in July matched the year-ago figure and June’s rate of 2.9 percent, the State Labor Department said Friday.
“The unemployment rate has remained under 3 percent for 16 consecutive months,” Labor Commissioner John Albin said.
In Iowa, the preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 2.6 percent in June, tying it with South Dakota for the second-lowest rate in the nation. Iowa Workforce Development said Friday that the rate, down from 2.7 percent in June, was an 18-year low.
Hawaii had the nation’s lowest rate last month at 2.1 percent. The national rate of 3.9 percent in July was down from 4 percent in June.
Nebraska’s nonfarm employment was 1,033,228 in July, up 1.9 percent over the year and down eight-tenths of a point over the month. Private industries with the most growth year over year were manufacturing, up 4,791; leisure and hospitality, up 4,160; and professional and business services, up 4,038. Month to month, the largest gains were seen in professional and business services, up 986; education and health services, up 831; and manufacturing, up 624.
The preliminary Omaha-area rate remained 3.1 percent in July, matching the June figure . The new rate was two-tenths of a point lower than the 3.3 percent of July 2017. Lincoln’s preliminary rate dropped a tenth of a point in July, to 2.8 percent from 2.9 percent in June. The year-ago figure was 2.9 percent. Grand Island’s preliminary rate for July was 3.1 percent, matching the June rate and that of July 2017.
Copyright 2018 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
