The Nebraska Department of Labor announced Nebraska’s unemployment rate
for October is 2.7 percent. The rate is unchanged from the September rate
and is up 0.2 percentage points from the October 2023 rate of 2.5 percent.
For the fifth straight month, Nebraska’s rate is ranked fifth lowest in
the nation. South Dakota maintains its grip on the lowest unemployment
rate in the country at 1.9 percent. Vermont moved to second with an
October rate of 2.3 percent, followed by North Dakota at 2.4 percent, New
Hampshire at 2.5 percent, and Nebraska.
Nevada experienced the highest unemployment rate in the nation in October
at 5.7 percent. California at 5.4 percent, Illinois at 5.3 percent and
Kentucky at 5.0 percent rounded out the four states with the highest
jobless rates.
Brown County’s unemployment rate in October was above the statewide
average at 2.9 percent.
Rock County had the lowest unemployment rate in the area at 2.1 percent,
which was tied for the second-best rate in the state behind the 2.0
percent rate in Hayes County.
Holt County and Cherry County were close behind with rates of 2.2 percent
in October.
Keya Paha County’s October rate was better than the state average at 2.6
percent.
Blaine County had the highest rate in the area at 3.6 percent. Thomas
County at 4.2 percent and Loup County at 4.1 percent .
Private industries with the most growth from September to October were the
private education and health services sector (up 2,217 jobs); the trade,
transportation, and utilities sector (up 1,587 jobs); and the mining and
construction sector (up 556 jobs).
The counts of employed and unemployed in the labor force are based on a
survey conducted by the Census Bureau regarding employment status.
