Unemployment rates fall in 27 US states

The latest estimates, which will be revised early next year, show about 59.5 percent of the state’s population is employed, compared with 59.3 nationally.

The Nebraska Department of Labor reported Friday that the unemployment rate for the Lincoln Metropolitan Statistical Area dropped to 2.1 percent in November, down from 2.3 percent in both October and in November 2014.

Indiana’s labor-force participation rate came in at 63.7 percent, continuing a 19-month trend of being higher than the national average (62.5 percent).

The overall statewide unemployment rate stood at 5.7 percent, down from 5.8 percent in October and the nationwide rate stood at 4.8 percent.

The national jobless rate remained unchanged in November at 5 percent. Employment in six major industry sectors decreased, while four sectors posted gains. Mining and logging employment decreased 1,700. Around 7,300 professional, scientific and technical services jobs were also added during the year. Leisure and hospitality dropped 1,000, a typical seasonal contraction.

The sectors that lost jobs were manufacturing (down 500) and other services (down 300). Most of the increase was in retail trade (+2,600), as stores begin preparation for the holiday shopping season.

From November 2014 to November 2015, nonagricultural wage and salary employment grew 75,800.

“San Diego’s economy is being driven by growth in high-tech sectors and accessible industries like construction, manufacturing and health care”, said Mike Combs, research manager at San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. The nation added 211,000 new jobs last month as companies continued a robust pace of hiring that helped spur the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this week. Gains occurred in all three subsectors. Now were at 3.6 percent, and we have total employment increasing.

In Orange County, trade, transportation and the utilities sector reported the largest monthly increase, adding 6,800 jobs.