Neb. unemployment rate remains 3.6 pct in October

The Nebraska Department of Labor said in a report issued Tuesday that the rate is a half percentage point higher than the rate in October 2007.

State Labor Commissioner Catherine Lang said the 3.6 percent rate in September and October is well below Nebraska's high of 5.9 percent in October 1982, during the 1981-82 recession.

The estimated September rate of 3.5 percent reported on Oct. 31 has been revised to the seasonally adjusted rate of 3.6 percent.

The national unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in October, which is 1.7 percentage points higher than October 2007.

The department report said Nebraska has added 6,552 jobs since October 2007. The top three private growth sectors over the 12 months are: educational and health services (+3,589); professional and business services (+2,711); and financial activities (+1,830).

Hours worked in the state's manufacturing industries averaged 41.3 a week in October, the state said. That's nearly an hour less than the September figure and a drop of 1.2 hours since October 2007.

Overall Nebraska employment is at the highest point in any October since 1976, the state report said.

For Lincoln, the estimated unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point, to 2.9 percent in October. That's three-tenths of a point higher than October 2007.

For Omaha, the estimated October rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent, which is four-tenths of a point higher than a year ago.