LINCOLN - Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for November 2023 is 2.3 percent, seasonally adjusted. The rate is up 0.1 percentage points from the October 2023 rate of 2.2 percent and is down 0.4 percentage points from the November 2022 rate of 2.7 percent.  National unemployment rate rankings are available here: bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm.   

In addition to the unemployment rate and nonfarm employment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program has released average monthly employment counts for employers covered by unemployment insurance. 

“Average monthly covered employment surpassed one million for the first time at 1,013,004,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin. “Nonfarm employment also continues to trend upward.”

Nonfarm employment is a count of filled jobs produced by the BLS Current Employment Statistics program.  Total nonfarm employment differs from covered employment by including noncovered jobs such as employees of non-profits and religious organizations, railroad workers, elected officials, and students in work study programs. Covered and nonfarm employment are subject to seasonal variations.  To see more covered employment data by industry, sub state geographies, as well as total wages paid, and average weekly wage click here:  www.neworks.nebraska.gov/QCEW. 

Nonfarm employment was 1,054,827 in November, up 1,595 over the month and up 11,134 over the year.  Private industries with the most growth month to month were trade, transportation, and utilities (up 2,518 jobs); private education and health services (up 2,271 jobs); and financial services (up 73 jobs).  Private industries with the most over the year growth were private education and health services (up 6,451 jobs), manufacturing (up 1,792 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (up 1,551 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 November 2023 is 3.7 percent, down 0.2 percent from the October 2023 rate. The rate is up 0.1 percentage points from the November 2022 rate of 3.6 percent.

Employment data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and NDOL are subject to revisions monthly and annually. For more information, visit www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm#section7.

December 2023 Nebraska employment data will be published Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

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.