Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Unemployment steady in Kimball, slightly improved in Banner

Unemployment numbers remained steady in Kimball County for May while Banner County’s numbers improved by a half percent in numbers released by the Nebraska Department of Labor late last week.

Kimball County’s unemployment rate of 3.4 percent for May remained steady from revised April numbers. April showed an increase from March, however, going from 2.5 percent to 3.4 percent.

The Department of Labor report showed there were 78 unemployed in Kimball County last month, which was also the same as April. There were 2,185 employed in the county in May, compared to 2,193 in April.

In Banner County, May unemployment improved to 2.6 percent. The revised unemployment numbers for April registered at 3.1 percent. Banner County’s unemployment numbers have improved by 1 percent from March, going from 3.6 percent to 2.6 percent.

The report showed there were 11 unemployed in Banner County last month, compared to 13 in April. There were 415 employed in May, while the report showed 403 employed in April.

Cheyenne County’s unemployment numbers remained steady at 1.9 percent in May. The rate revised April rate was 1.9 percent, while the rate was 2.0 percent in June.

The 11-county Panhandle Economic Region, which includes Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Sioux counties, had an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent for May. The number was also 2.6 percent in April, while it was 2.8 percent in March. Statewide, the unemployment rate was also 2.6 percent in May, a slight jump from the 2.5 percent unemployment rate in April.

Unemployment by the numbers

Banner County

Preliminary May 2015 unemployment - 2.6 percent

Revised April 2015 unemployment - 3.1 percent

May 2014 unemployment - 3.4 percent

Kimball County

Preliminary May 2015 unemployment - 3.4 percent

Revised April 2015 unemployment - 3.4 percent

May 2014 unemployment - 2.5 percent

Cheyenne County

Preliminary May 2015 unemployment - 1.9 percent

Revised April 2015 unemployment- 1.9 percent

May 2014 unemployment - 2.1 percent

Statewide

Preliminary May 2015 - unemployment 2.6

Revised April 2015 - unemployment 2.5

March 2015 - unemployment 2.6

Banner County

May 2015 415 employed 11 unemployed 2.6 percent

April 2015 403 employed 13 unemployed 3.1 percent

March 2015 406 employed 15 unemployed 3.6 percent

Cheyenne County

May 2015 5,539 employed 107 unemployed 1.9 percent

April 2015 5,574 employed 108 unemployed 1.9 percent

March 2015 5,553 employed 113 unemployed 2.0 percent

Kimball County

May 2015 2,185 employed 78 unemployed 3.4 percent

April 2015 2,193 employed 78 unemployed 3.4 percent

March 2015 2,184 employed 68 unemployed 3.0 percent

Panhandle Economic Region

May 2015 45,215 employed 1,230 unemployed 2.6 percent

April 2015 45,218 employed 1,218 unemployed 2.6 percent

March 2015 45,114 employed 1,284 unemployed 2.8 percent

Panhandle Economic Region - Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Sioux counties