Overall unemployment rate moved up to 3.7% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 6,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2021.

Total employment in the Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA market declined by 16,836 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 70 bps to 3.7%. The national unemployment rate increased by 31 bps over the same time to 6.8%.

  • Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA unemployment rate is 311 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 50 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 1.5% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Unemployment January 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -2.6%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 92,500; -6,000
  • Education & Healthcare: 77,400; -2,100
  • Business Services: 70,200; -900
  • Government: 64,600; -1,100
  • Financial Services: 44,700; -1,100
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 42,600; +100
  • Manufacturing: 33,500; -400
  • Construction, Mining: 29,700; -1,300
  • Other Jobs: 17,600; no change
  • IT & Development: 9,600; +100
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Unemployment by Industry January 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2021 (Data published March 2021 and reports created on March 25, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.