Number of employed Nebraskans reaches record high

From: AP and State Press Release

Governor Pete Ricketts along with the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) announced that the number of Nebraskans employed in March surpassed 1 million, a record high for the state. 

 “Labor force employment has reached a record high each of the last three months, and also has had over-the-year gains every month since March of 2017,” Ricketts said. “Our team is working every day to support Nebraska’s job creators as they grow opportunities that help make Nebraska the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.”

Nebraska previously achieved 1 million non-farm jobs. This new record marks the first month 1 million unique individuals have been employed in Nebraska.

Nebraska’s preliminary labor force employment level for March is 1,000,413, seasonally adjusted.  The state’s labor force participation rate, or percentage of people who are working or actively looking for work, is tied for third highest in the country as of February 2019.  The total labor force, comprised of the employed and those actively seeking employment, has had an over-the-year increase every month since April 2017.

“The over-the-year gain in March of 11,721 was the highest over-the-year gain since 2012,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin.

The unemployment rate in Nebraska also remains low. Officials say Nebraska’s unemployment rate remained unchanged last month at 2.8%.

It also was well below the March’s national figure of 3.8 percent, which is down two-tenths of a point from 4 percent a year ago.     

It’s the eighth straight month the Nebraska figure’s been 2.8 percent.

It’s unclear whether the figure is likely to change soon because of any jobs lost in the massive spring flooding that caused more than $3 billion in damage in the Midwest.