December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Nebraska Employment Snapshot

• In December, Nebraska added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nebraska added 20,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Nebraska is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Nebraska’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 17,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 300 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Nebraska rose by 1,705, and over the past 12 months it rose by 332.

• Nebraska’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.5 percent in December and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Nebraska Payroll Employment

• Nebraska added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 100 jobs. Nebraska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Nebraska is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nebraska remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 300 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Nebraska is tied for 10th 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 December were Education and Health Services (600) and Government (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-600) and Professional and Business Services (-900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (7,300) and Government (3,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (0) and Financial Activities (-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 remained unchanged at 68.5 percent in December.

• Nebraska ranks 3rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in September 2024.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.