Nebraska’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point in October to 3.8%. That’s down 6-10ths of a point from last year and less than half of the national jobless rate of 7.9%.

The unemployment rate for Omaha actually rose a tenth of a point last month to 3.9%, but that’s still an improvement of 7-10ths of a point from a year ago. Lincoln was at 3.2%…also up a tenth of a point for the month, but 4-10th of a point lower than last year.

In the Panhandle, the Scottsbluff Micropolitan Statistical Area…which includes Scotts Bluff and Banner counties…had the same numbers as Omaha: an increase of a tenth of a point to 3.9%.

The numbers for all three are not adjusted for seasonal factors the way the state figures are, making direct comparisons meaningless.

Nebraska Commissioner of Labor and Director of Economic Development Catherine Lang says the positive report reflects good weather…which is keeping construction numbers up…and growth in a variety of industries.

Lang says Nebraska’s non-farm employment is close to a million jobs…an increase of about 3,600 from September  and over 10,000 more than a year ago…a 1.07% increase.

The three industries showing the largest job gains over the past 12 months were Mining and Construction, Education and Health Services, and Manufacturing.