October 21, 2009 - Nebraska, meanwhile, continues to possesses one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country because of its diversified economy, said Catherine Lang, Nebraska's labor commissioner. North and South Dakota are the only states with lower unemployment.
"We have always been in a better position than many other states," Lang said. "We certainly have felt this economic downturn later and probably less severely than in some states that have been affected by a particular industry."
Lang said the number of job seekers seems to be decreasing in the state while some new jobs are being created. Education and health services companies added 1,147 jobs last month, but that was the only private sector with a net increase.
State figures show that Nebraska's estimated seasonally adjusted labor force in September was 981,626. Of them, 47,801 were listed as unemployed, which is 1,356 lower than August but still 13,611 higher than in September 2008.
The state says the only labor markets where the unemployment rate increased last month were Columbus and North Platte. The rate was flat in Grand Island and Lexington, and it fell everywhere else.
Omaha's estimated unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percent in September from a revised 5 percent in August. The rate was 3.5 percent in September 2008.
For Lincoln, September's estimated unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent from a revised 4.4 percent in August. A year ago, the unemployment rate was 3 percent.
