Index Value: 1.83
Job Postings: 16,476
Change from Third Quarter: +10.4%
Unemployment: 53,462
Change from Third Quarter: +23.8%
WFI Update:
The Nebraska WorkForce Index (WFI), which compares labor availability to job availability in Nebraska, rose to 1.83 in the first quarter of 2010, a significant shift caused by a 24% increase in the number of unemployed workers at the start of the year. While the state’s unemployment rate jumped from 4.4% to 5.4%, the number of job postings increased by 10% over that same time period.
NOTE: The Bureau of Labor Statistics has changed the way it models Nebraska’s employment data. After applying the new data to the WFI process, it was determined that there was no statistically significant impact on the analysis.
Career Field Trends:
The number of jobs posted across most sectors has INCREASED. Architecture & Construction, and Manufacturing saw the largest gains. The four sectors that decreased in postings (Human Services, Government & Public Administration, Marketing Sales & Service, and Finance & Insurance) did so in such a small amount that they could be considered, “holding steady.”
The following industries saw job postings increase the most from the fourth quarter of 2009:
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources 50%
Architecture & Construction 41%
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics 30%
Manufacturing 28%
Arts, A/V Technology and Communication 23%
Education and Training 17%
Hospitality & Tourism 16%
Scientific Research/Engineering 10%
The following industries saw job postings decrease the most from the fourth quarter of 2009:
