June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Nebraska

Employment snapshot

• In June, Nebraska added 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.9 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nebraska lost 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Nebraska is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Nebraska’s private sector added 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Nebraska fell by 1,885, and over the past 12 months it rose by 159.

• Nebraska’s labor force participation rate fell to 69.6 percent in June from 69.8 percent and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Nebraska

Payroll employment

• Nebraska added 1,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,200 jobs. Nebraska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Nebraska is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nebraska added 1,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,500 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Nebraska ranks 39th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,300) and Other Services (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-400) and Professional and Business Services (-200).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,500) and Construction (+3,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-4,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900).

Nebraska

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Nebraska fell to 69.6 percent in June from 69.8 percent in the prior month.

• Nebraska ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 69.1 percent occurring in November 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.