Job Rate Better Here Than Across Neb., U.S.

Kimball County fares well when it comes to unemployment rates across Nebraska and the United States.

The latest State Department of Labor figures show the county’s unemployment rate at 2.5 percent for November – an improvement from 2.7 percent in October and better than the statewide and national rates.

Here’s the county’s statistical breakdown for November and October:

• Total labor force: 2,027 in November; 2,000 in October.

• Employed: 1,976 in November; 1,947 in October.

• Unemployed: 51 in November; 53 in October.

• Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent in November; 2.7 percent in October.

As for Banner County, here are the November and October numbers:

• Total labor force: 405 in November; 383 in October.

• Employed: 390 in November; 371 in October.

• Unemployed: 15 in November; 12 in October.

• Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent in November; 3.1 percent in October.

Meanwhile, Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for November was 2.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, according to the department. The state’s rate was unchanged from October 2018 and is down 0.1 percentage points from the November 2017 rate of 2.9 percent.

“November was another strong month for manufacturing, with a 3 percent employment increase over the year,” state Labor Commissioner John H. Albin said. “The month also saw historical highs for both statewide labor force employment and Lincoln labor force employment.”

Statewide nonfarm employment was nearly 1.04 million over the year – and up 2,263 over the month. Private industries with the most growth year over year were professional and business services (up 4,881), leisure and hospitality services (up 3,546), and manufacturing (up 3,028).

Month to month, the largest gains statewide were seen in trade, transportation, and utilities (up 4,024), education and health (up 468), and other services (up 26).

At the national level, the U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 3.7 percent, unchanged from October 2018 rate and down 0.4 percentage points from the November 2017 rate of 4.1 percent.

The national rate is 1.2 percentage points higher than that In Kimball County.

The state Labor Department expects to release December 2018 employment data Jan. 18.