LINCOLN - Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for July 2023 is 2.0 percent, seasonally adjusted. The rate is up 0.1 percentage points from the June 2023 rate of 1.9 percent and is down 0.4 percentage points from the July 2022 rate of 2.4 percent.  The state's ranking is tied for fifth lowest with North Dakota. National unemployment rate rankings are available here: bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm.   

“The Omaha and Grand Island metro areas had historical highs for employment in July at 502,009 and 45,381, respectively” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin.  “This is the second straight month for a historical high in Omaha.”

Nonfarm employment, a count of filled jobs, was 1,046,155 in July, up 9,172 over the month and up 19,898 over the year.  Private industries with the most growth month to month were mining and construction (up 1,781 jobs), professional and business services (up 1,500 jobs), and other services (up 907 jobs). Private industries with the most over the year growth were leisure and hospitality services (up 5,029 jobs), private education and health services (up 4,045 jobs), and mining and construction (up 4,031 jobs).

The counts of employed and unemployed in the labor force are based on a survey conducted by the Census Bureau regarding employment status. Both individuals who are claiming unemployment benefits and those who are not claiming can be counted as unemployed based on their survey responses. Individuals who are not working and are not seeking work are not considered part of the labor force and are not included in the unemployment rate calculation.

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2023 is 3.5 percent, down 0.1 percentage points from the June 2023 rate of 3.6 percent.  This rate is unchanged from the July 2022 rate of 3.5 percent.

Unemployment rates and nonfarm employment data released by BLS and NDOL are subject to revisions monthly and annually. For more information visit www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm#section7.

August 2023 Nebraska employment data will be published Tuesday, September 19, 2023.

Employers looking for qualified applicants are encouraged to post their jobs for free on NEworks.nebraska.gov and partner with their closest job center to take advantage of programs geared at recruiting, upskilling, and expanding their workforce.

More employment data is available at dol.nebraska.gov/INFOlink.  NDOL press releases are accessible here: dol.nebraska.gov/PressRelease.