Norfolk Area Labor Force Reaches Lowest Mark in 24 Years

NORFOLK - The Norfolk area unemployment rate is dropping, but it's not because more people are getting hired. Preliminary labor statistics released Friday show that the Norfolk area, made up of Madison, Pierce and Stanton Counties, saw its unemployment rate drop to 2.2%, the lowest mark the Norfolk area has hit since it fell to 2.1% back in November of 2014. But the Nebraska Department of Labor says the number is less a reflection of more people being hired as it is having less available workers.The Norfolk area actually lost 136 jobs over the last month. But Norfolk's labor force, the measurement of those who are able to work and are either employed or seeking jobs, fell to 25,820. Norfolk hasn't seen a labor force that small since April of 1993. Jobless claims are also at lows not seen in a while. There were 579 new filings for unemployment in the Norfolk area last month, the lowest that number has been since December of 1997. Statwide, the unemployment rate stood at 2.8%, well below the national rate of 4.2%.
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