Unemployment Rates in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area, Nebraska — May 2026

Data: BLS LAUS  Updated: May 2026  • National rate: 4.3%

3.4%
Area Average
16.9%
Highest Rate
2.3%
Lowest Rate
4.3%
US National

Unemployment Snapshot: Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area — May 2026

Across 50 tracked locations in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area, the average unemployment rate stands at 3.4% as of May 2026. This is 0.9 pp below the national average of 4.3%.

Highest Unemployment

  1. Dawson County, NE — 16.9%
  2. Saline County, NE — 4.5%
  3. Gosper County, NE — 4.4%

Lowest Unemployment

  1. Brown County, NE — 2.3%
  2. Harlan County, NE — 2.3%
  3. Fillmore County, NE — 2.4%

Employment has softened this month: 31 locations recorded a month-over-month increase versus 13 that decreased. Arrows indicate change from previous month.

Interactive Unemployment Heat Map: Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area Metro Area

Click or hover a location on the map to see unemployment details. Use the buttons in the table below to zoom to a specific area.

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Unemployment Rates for Selected Locations in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area
Location Current
May 2026
Prev.
Month
6 Months
Ago
1 Year
Ago
Adams County, NE 3.4%3.6%2.5%2.8%
Antelope County, NE 3.3%3.1%2.5%2.7%
Blaine County, NE 3.1%2.3%2.5%2.5%
Boone County, NE 2.5%2.2%2.1%2.1%
Boyd County, NE 3.9%3.8%2.4%4.1%
Brown County, NE 2.3%2.2%2.2%2.0%
Buffalo County, NE 2.8%2.5%2.4%2.0%
Butler County, NE 2.5%2.5%2.5%2.1%
Clay County, NE 3.9%4.0%2.6%3.1%
Custer County, NE 2.9%2.6%2.5%2.0%
Dawson County, NE 16.9%3.4%2.8%2.9%
Fillmore County, NE 2.4%2.5%2.1%1.9%
Franklin County, NE 2.8%2.9%2.2%2.5%
Furnas County, NE 2.8%2.7%2.5%2.7%
Gage County, NE 3.2%3.0%3.0%2.6%
Garfield County, NE 2.9%3.1%3.2%2.9%
Gosper County, NE 4.4%3.2%3.1%2.9%
Grand Island, NE 4.1%5.7%3.0%5.3%
Greeley County, NE 3.4%4.3%3.2%2.9%
Hall County, NE 3.9%5.4%2.9%4.9%
Hamilton County, NE 2.6%3.2%2.3%2.0%
Harlan County, NE 2.3%2.2%2.4%1.9%
Hastings, NE 3.4%3.7%2.5%2.9%
Holt County, NE 2.5%2.2%2.2%2.1%
Howard County, NE 2.6%3.9%2.2%2.4%
Jefferson County, NE 3.4%3.1%3.3%2.7%
Kearney, NE 2.8%2.5%2.4%2.1%
Kearney County, NE 2.7%2.6%2.5%2.1%
Keya Paha County, NE 4.4%3.3%3.6%3.0%
Lancaster County, NE 3.2%3.1%2.7%2.6%
Lincoln, NE 3.3%3.1%2.7%2.6%
Loup County, NE 3.9%3.6%3.7%4.3%
Merrick County, NE 2.7%3.5%2.3%2.1%
Nance County, NE 2.8%2.6%2.3%2.5%
Nuckolls County, NE 3.0%3.0%2.4%2.4%
Pawnee County, NE 3.2%3.3%3.2%2.7%
Phelps County, NE 2.6%2.3%2.2%2.1%
Phillips County, KS 3.7%3.7%3.4%3.2%
Polk County, NE 2.8%2.8%2.5%2.4%
Republic County, KS 3.5%3.5%3.0%3.0%
Rock County, NE 2.4%2.1%2.6%2.1%
Saline County, NE 4.5%4.3%2.8%3.3%
Seward County, NE 2.9%2.4%2.4%2.3%
Sherman County, NE 3.1%3.1%2.5%2.6%
Smith County, KS 4.3%3.9%3.1%3.4%
Thayer County, NE 2.8%2.4%2.5%2.2%
Valley County, NE 2.6%2.5%2.2%2.8%
Webster County, NE 3.3%3.0%2.7%2.8%
Wheeler County, NE 2.7%2.1%2.8%2.6%
York County, NE 2.8%2.5%2.5%2.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current unemployment rate in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area?

As of May 2026, the average unemployment rate across 50 tracked locations in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area is 3.4%. Individual locations range from 2.3% to 16.9%. Click any location on the map or table to explore sub-area data.

Which areas in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area have the highest unemployment?

The three locations with the highest unemployment rates in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area as of May 2026 are: Dawson County (16.9%), Saline County (4.5%), Gosper County (4.4%). These areas are highlighted in red/pink on the heat map.

Which areas have the lowest unemployment?

The lowest unemployment rates in Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area are found in: Brown County (2.3%), Harlan County (2.3%), Fillmore County (2.4%). These locations appear in blue on the heat map.

How does Lincoln-Hastings-Kearny Area compare to the national unemployment rate?

The U.S. national unemployment rate for May 2026 is 4.3%. This is 0.9 pp below the national average of 4.3%.

How often is unemployment data updated?

Local area unemployment data is published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, typically 3–4 weeks after the end of the reference month. This page reflects data released for May 2026. Figures may be subject to revision in subsequent releases.

Data Source & Methodology

Unemployment data on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Program
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
Publisher
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Data Period
May 2026
Release Frequency
Monthly (typically 3–4 weeks after the reference month)
Geography
States, metropolitan areas, counties, and sub-county places
Methodology
LAUS uses a signal-extraction model at the state level derived from the Current Population Survey (CPS). Sub-state estimates for metropolitan areas, counties, and places are produced using complementary methods including input from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and unemployment insurance (UI) claims data.
Direct Links
BLS LAUS HomeLAUS Data TablesBLS Data Finder

Data is subject to revision. Figures reflect not seasonally adjusted rates unless otherwise noted. ZipDataMaps.com is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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