The Nebraska WorkForce Index (WFI), which compares labor availability to job availability in Nebraska, showed substantial gain from the 2nd quarter of 2011, decreasing from 1.58 to 1.33.  This gain (a decrease in the index value suggests improved labor market conditions for the job applicant, reflecting increased job postings relative to Nebraska unemployment) is the largest quarter to quarter move in the index in over four years.  It reflects a substantial quarter to quarter increase in Careerlink postings at the same time the number of unemployed Nebraskans decreased by over 1,200 individuals.  Nebraska’s state unemployment rate, the seconded lowest in the United States, decreased from a revised 4.3 percent in August 2011 to 4.2 percent in September.  Only North Dakota at 3.5 percent has a lower unemployment rate than Nebraska.  Nationally, unemployment remained at 9.1 percent.

AIM’s job trend data shows that, between the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2011, job postings increased in every job sector but one.  The data below also shows increased postings for many job sectors compared to one year ago.  While more job sectors showed fewer job postings than one year ago, the total number of postings for all sectors increased 7.1 percent in the last 12 months.

The following industries saw job postings increase from the second quarter of 2011: