Nebraska unemployment data delayed due to shutdown

The Nebraska Department of Labor said Friday that its September unemployment report will be delayed due to the federal government shutdown.

In a news release, a department spokeswoman said that monthly labor department information, including local and state unemployment rates and jobs data, is produced in partnership with the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The labor department, like many other federal departments, temporarily ceased operations on Oct. 1 when Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government.

“NDOL will announce the anticipated date that data will be released as soon as it’s determined,” the spokeswoman said in a news release.

Nebraska’s statewide unemployment rate has remained steady at 3% over the past few months, although it’s higher than it was at this time last year.

One employment statistic that is still being compiled is initial claims for unemployment assistance, and Nebraska saw a huge jump for the week ending Oct. 4, which is the most recent week available.

According to data, the state had 1,140 initial claims that week, more than double the previous week, and the most in a single week since early July.