The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) announced today that Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for June was 2.9 percent, seasonally adjusted. The rate was unchanged from the May 2017 rate and is down 0.3 percentage points from the June 2016 rate of 3.2 percent.

“This is the second consecutive month that Nebraska’s unemployment rate is 2.9 percent,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin. “Maintaining this low rate was aided by employment increases in businesses such as specialty trade contractors, business services and accommodation and food services.”

Nonfarm employment was 1,039,386, up 18,620 over the year and up 5,191 over the month. Private industries with the most growth year over year were leisure and hospitality (up 4,440), professional and business services (up 4,283), and trade, transportation and utilities (up 2,840). Month to month, the largest gains were seen in leisure and hospitality (up 4,067); professional and business services (up 1,607); and mining and construction (up 1,472).

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June was 4.4 percent, up 0.1 percentage points from the May 2017 rate of 4.3 percent and down 0.5 percentage points from the June 2016 rate of 4.9 percent.

For more June data, go to dol.nebraska.gov/InfoLink. Nonfarm employment data can be found at NEworks.nebraska.gov/CES and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data can be found at NEworks.nebraska.gov/LAUS.

July 2017 data is scheduled for release on Friday, August 18.