Today, Governor Pete Ricketts and 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,” said Governor Ricketts.  “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.  The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has been at or below 2.8% since April of 2018 and at or below 3.0% since January 2017.

More employment data can be found at NEworks.nebraska.gov.