Nebraska’s unemployment rate rose 2-tenths of a point in June to an even 4%…the same as the year before…but the increase doesn’t worry state Labor Commissioner Catherine Lang.

Lang says the jobless rate rose not because there were fewer jobs in the state, but because more people who’d gotten discouraged and stopped looking for work the past couple years re-entered the workforce.

In fact, she continues to be encouraged because the state’s nonfarm employment rose again, as it has every month since January, with about 2,900 more jobs than in May and 12,000 more than last June.

The 3 private sector industries showing the largest job gains from May to June were Leisure and Hospitality…Trade, Transportation, and Utilities…and Mining and Construction.

The jobless rate last month in Omaha was 4.6%…up half a point from May but the same as a year ago…while the Lincoln rate was 4%…also up half a point for the month and a tenth of a point higher than last year.

The Scotts Bluff Micropolitan Statistical Area…which include Scotts Bluff and Banner counties…had a 4.8% unemployment rate, the highest in the state and up 4-10ths from the revised May figures.

The local numbers are not adjusted for seasonal factors while the statewide numbers are, making comparisons between the two statistically meaningless.