Nebraska's jobless rate rises slighty to 2.6 percent in May

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska's unemployment rate rose a tenth of a point to hit 2.6 percent inMay, but it remained the lowest rate in the nation, according to reports released Friday.

The May rate was eight-tenths of a point below the May 2014 rate of 3.4 percent, according to theNebraska Labor Department.

The new Nebraska figure remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 5.5percent in May. U.S. Labor Department figures said Nebraska was trailed by North Dakota at 3.1percent and Utah at 3.5 percent.

"Nebraska's employment numbers were strong again in May as total nonfarm employment topped 1million statewide and Omaha's employment was the highest it's been since 1990" said state LaborCommissioner John Albin.

Nebraska's total nonfarm employment reached 1,007,346 in May, which was an increase of 4,326workers from April. Segments with the most growth over the month were mining and construction,up 1,907; trade, transportation and utilities, up 1,387; and leisure and hospitality, up 467.

Omaha's preliminary unemployment rate rose a tenth of a point to hit 2.9 percent last month, but itwas down six-tenths of a point from the revised May 2014 figure of 3.5 percent. Lincoln'spreliminary May rate was 2.2 percent, the same as the revised figure for April but seven-tenths of apoint below the revised May 2014 figure of 2.9 percent.

The preliminary rate for the Grand Island labor market was 2.7 percent, the same as the revised

figure for April but down four-tenths of a point from the revised May 2014 figure of 3.1 percent.

The unemployment rates for Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha have not been seasonally adjusted, sothey cannot be directly compared with the state unemployment rate.

Here are preliminary area labor market unemployment rates for May, followed by revised figuresfrom April:

--Beatrice: 3.2, 3.2

--Columbus: 2.5, 2.3

--Fremont: 2.9, 2.8

--Hastings: 2.7, 2.6

--Kearney: 2.2, 2.0

--Lexington: 2.7, 2.7

--Norfolk: 2.3, 2.3

--North Platte: 2.5, 2.5

--Red Willow: 2.3, 2.2

--Scottsbluff: 3.0, 2.9

Online:

Nebraska Department of Labor: http://www.dol.nebraska.gov

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