United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Nebraska Employment Snapshot
In May, Nebraska added 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.5 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska added 2,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Nebraska added 21,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Nebraska is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Nebraska’s private sector added 2,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 18,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska added 2,600 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Nebraska fell by 1,227, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,162.
Nebraska’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.5 percent in May from 68.6 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Nebraska Payroll Employment
Nebraska added 3,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Nebraska added 2,900 jobs. Nebraska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Nebraska is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Nebraska added 2,800 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Nebraska added 2,600 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Nebraska is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during May were Leisure and Hospitality (1,600) and Manufacturing (600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (6,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (4,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-100) and Financial Activities (-1,700).
Nebraska Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Nebraska fell to 68.5 percent in May from 68.6 percent in the prior month.
Nebraska ranks 4th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.8 percent in May 2014, and the 10-year low was 68.5 percent in May 2024.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.