LINCOLN- The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) announced today that Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for July was 3.1 percent, seasonally adjusted. The rate is up 0.1 percentage points over the month and over the year.

"While the unemployment rate was up slightly, total nonfarm employment for July was the highest July on record. A number of industries saw strong year-to-year growth, including leisure and hospitality and education and health services," said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin. "July also saw employment levels reach new highs in mining and construction, financial activities, and professional and business services."

Nonfarm employment grew by 12,705 over the year. Private industries with the most growth year over year were leisure and hospitality (up 5,562), education and health services (up 4,288), and professional and business services (up 2,578). Month to month, the largest gains were seen in professional and business services (up 2,040), mining and construction (up 723) and other services (up 294).

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July was 4.9 percent, the same as the June rate and down 0.4 percentage points from the July 2015 rate of 5.3 percent.

August 2016 data will be published Tuesday, September 20.

Monthly State Unemployment Rate.pdf