Department of Numbers

Lincoln, Nebraska Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lincoln fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the Nebraska rate. The unemployment rate in Lincoln peaked in April 2020 at 8.8% and is now 6.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 1.9% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Lincoln unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Nebraska 2.5% -0.2 +0.4
Lincoln 2.1% -0.1 +0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lincoln, Nebraska, National

Lincoln, Nebraska monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lincoln, Nebraska Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lincoln peaked in April 2020 at 16,455. There are now 12,354 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,565 in April 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 536. Lincoln employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lincoln, Nebraska) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lincoln 4,101 -195 +346

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lincoln, Nebraska Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Nebraska
Unemployment Rate
Lincoln
Unemployment Rate
Lincoln
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 2.5% 2.1% 4,101
December
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.2% 4,296
November
2022
3.6% 2.7% 2.2% 4,201
October
2022
3.7% 2.7% 2.1% 4,032
September
2022
3.5% 2.6% 2.1% 3,946
August
2022
3.7% 2.6% 2.0% 3,889
July
2022
3.5% 2.4% 2.0% 3,819
June
2022
3.6% 2.2% 2.0% 3,749
May
2022
3.6% 2.1% 1.9% 3,619
April
2022
3.6% 2.0% 1.9% 3,565
March
2022
3.6% 2.0% 1.9% 3,578

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.