Nebraska Labor Force Demonstrates Strength with Low Unemployment and Robust Participation

At-a-Glance:

Stable 3.1% Unemployment Rate:

Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for March 2026 is 3.1 percent, seasonally adjusted. The rate is unchanged from the February 2026 unemployment rate and up 0.2 percent over the year.

“Nebraska’s workers and employers are engaged, building careers and fueling economic growth across the state,” said Commissioner of Labor Katie Thurber. “We continue to see over a million people employed, a low unemployment rate, and one of the highest labor force participation rates in the nation.”

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2026 is 4.3 percent, down 0.1 percentage points from the February 2026 unemployment rate and up 0.1 percent from the March 2025 unemployment rate. National unemployment rate rankings are available here.

Total Non-Farm Employment:

Non-farm employment, the number of jobs filled, was 1,048,039 in March, up 7,697 over the month and down 2,065 over the year.  Private industries with the most over-the-month growth were leisure and hospitality (up 2,861 jobs), mining and construction, (up 2,536 jobs), and professional and business services (up 1,544 jobs).  The largest over-the-year growth came from mining and construction (up 3,678 jobs), private education and health services (up 3,640 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (up 259 jobs). 

Top 3 Nebraska Industries by Year‑Over‑Year Growth

Data Release Schedule:

Helpful Links:

• Nebraska Employment Data
• NEworks Labor Market Information
• NDOL Press Releases
• National Rate Rankings

Benchmarking Explained:

Benchmarked unemployment refers to an annual update by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that adjusts previous estimates of jobs and unemployment using confirmed employment records, such as tax filings or reports from employers. BLS programs, including Current Employment Statistics (CES) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) are included in these programs. Figures are revised monthly as new information becomes available, and annual BLS benchmarking may also lead to revisions. This ensures the numbers reflect real job-market conditions by comparing earlier estimates to recent verified data. For more on how benchmarking works click the link:  CES monthly revisions and annual benchmarking

Technical Notes:

The labor force includes employed individuals and those actively seeking work, as determined by a Census Bureau survey. People may be counted as unemployed regardless of whether they claim unemployment benefits, depending on their survey responses. Those not working or seeking employment are excluded from the labor force and the unemployment rate calculation.