February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

Nebraska Employment Snapshot

• In February, Nebraska added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 1,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nebraska added 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Nebraska’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Nebraska rose by 1,565, and over the past 12 months it rose by 10,070.

• Nebraska’s labor force participation rate rose to 69.1 percent in February from 69 percent and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Nebraska Payroll Employment

• Nebraska added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 1,000 jobs. Nebraska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nebraska added 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 1,200 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 41st 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 February were Construction (1,000) and Financial Activities (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (5,500) and Government (3,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Professional and Business Services (-4,100).

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 rose to 69.1 percent in February from 69 percent in the prior month.

• Nebraska ranks 3rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 68.8 percent occurring in March 2024.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.