The state sports the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. The latest unemployment rate for Nebraska shows people returned to work in May after a record high rate of nearly 9 percent from April.
The Nebraska Department of Labor reports Nebraska’s May 2020 rate is at 5.2 percent still higher than the 2.1 percent from last year.
Lincoln’s rate dropped from 9.3 percent in April to 5 percent in May. That’s still higher than the near 3 percent unemployment rate last year.
Unemployment Rates
(SA – Seasonally Adjusted, NSA – Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Changes Since | |||||||
| May-20* | Apr-20 | May-19 | Apr-20 | May-19 | |||
| Nebraska (SA) | 5.2 | 8.7 | 3.1 | -3.5 | 2.1 | ||
| Omaha MSA** (NSA) | 6.3 | 10.0 | 3.0 | -3.7 | 3.3 | ||
| Lincoln MSA (NSA) | 5.0 | 9.3 | 2.8 | -4.3 | 2.2 | ||
| Grand Island MSA (NSA) | 7.4 | 11.0 | 3.0 | -3.6 | 4.4 | ||
| Beatrice MC (NSA) | 4.1 | 9.3 | 3.1 | -5.2 | 1.0 | ||
| Columbus MC (NSA) | 5.2 | 8.3 | 3.0 | -3.1 | 2.2 | ||
| Fremont MC (NSA) | 3.8 | 6.8 | 2.9 | -3.0 | 0.9 | ||
| Hastings MC (NSA) | 4.9 | 8.3 | 2.9 | -3.4 | 2.0 | ||
| Kearney MC (NSA) | 5.6 | 9.5 | 2.7 | -3.9 | 2.9 | ||
| Lexington MC (NSA) | 3.9 | 5.4 | 2.8 | -1.5 | 1.1 | ||
| Norfolk MC (NSA) | 3.5 | 6.0 | 2.7 | -2.5 | 0.8 | ||
| North Platte (NSA) | 4.7 | 7.4 | 3.2 | -2.7 | 1.5 | ||
| Scottsbluff MC (NSA) | 4.3 | 7.3 | 3.5 | -3.0 | 0.8 | ||
| Red Willow-Hitchcock LMA (NSA) | 3.4 | 5.0 | 2.9 | -1.6 | 0.5 | ||
| United States (SA) | 13.3 | 14.7 | 3.6 | -1.4 | 9.7 | ||
*Preliminary
** MSA=Metropolitan Statistical Area, MC=Micropolitan Statistical Area, LMA=Labor Market Area
Visit the Data Download Center for not seasonally adjusted current and historical monthly labor force data.
Download UI in Brief for an overview of unemployment claims data for the month.
Total Nonfarm Employment
(Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Changes Since | |||||
| May-20* | Apr-20 | May-19 | Apr-20 | May-19 | |
| Nebraska | 961,247 | 944,403 | 1,036,023 | 1.8% | -7.2% |
| Omaha MSA | 474,159 | 463,400 | 510,334 | 2.3% | -7.1% |
| Lincoln MSA | 182,730 | 178,639 | 194,302 | 2.3% | -6.0% |
| Grand Island MSA | 39,078 | 38,566 | 42,740 | 1.3% | -8.6% |
| United States | 133,342,000 | 130,411,000 | 151,109,000 | 2.2% | -11.8% |
*Preliminary