Neb. unemployment increases to 4.7 percent in December but remains well below national rate

Neb. unemployment increases to 4.7 percent in Dec.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska’s unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.7 percent in December but still remained less than half the national unemployment rate of 10 percent, the state Department of Labor said Friday.

Nebraska continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. North Dakota again led the nation with a 4.4 percent rate in December. Nebraska and South Dakota tied for the second lowest rate at 4.7 percent unemployment.

State labor officials revised preliminary November’s unemployment rate to 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent.

The Nebraska unemployment rate in December is eight-tenths of a percentage point higher than the rate in December 2008. The national December rate is 2.6 percentage points higher than a year earlier.

Nebraska Labor Commissioner Catherine Lang says three sectors of the state economy reported increases in the number of jobs in December, including the first net increase in manufacturing employment since March 2008.

The trade, transportation and utility sector added 2,151 jobs between November and December. Manufacturing added 576 jobs. And financial businesses added 456 jobs.

Nebraska’s seasonally adjusted labor force included 983,159 people in December. Of those, 46,299 were listed as unemployed, which is 1,543 higher than in November and 7,153 higher than December 2008.

The state says the only labor markets where the unemployment rate decreased last month were Beatrice and Columbus. The rate was flat in Fremont and Hastings, and up in every other labor market the state tracks.

Omaha’s estimated unemployment rate increased to 5 percent in December from a revised 4.7 percent in November. The rate was 4.1 percent in December 2008.

Lincoln’s estimated unemployment rate also increased to 4.1 percent in December from a revised 3.9 percent in November. In December 2008, the Lincoln rate was 3.4 percent.

Unemployment rates for Omaha and Lincoln are not seasonally adjusted and cannot be compared with the state unemployment rate.

Here are the preliminary labor market rates for December, followed by the revised November rates:

— Beatrice: 5.6,5.7

— Columbus: 3.9,4.0

— Fremont: 4.6,4.6

— Grand Island: 4.1,4.0

— Hastings: 4.9,4.9

— Kearney: 3.2,3.0

— Lexington: 4.8,4.3

— Norfolk: 4.0,3.6

— North Platte: 4.2,3.8

— Red Willow: 4.3,4.1

— Scotts Bluff: 5.3,4.9

On the Net:

Nebraska Department of Labor: www.dol.nebraska.gov