Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment increased by 60 in August to 18,440 jobs. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A gain of 50 jobs was expected for the month, but the county’s total nonfarm employment increased by 110. Private-sector employment rose by 40 jobs, and government employment rose by 70.
Professional and business services added 40 over the month, but leisure and hospitality shed 30 jobs. Local government education added 80 jobs. Other industries had smaller changes. August’s total nonfarm employment was 240 less than one year before, a decrease of 1.2 percent. The private sector lost 10 jobs and government employment fell by 230.
Industries adding the most jobs over the year were food manufacturing (+80 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (+60 jobs). Local government education cut 270 jobs over the year, professional and business services shed 60, and construction chopped 50 jobs. Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in August, essentially unchanged from the previous month (4.6%) and it was the same as the year before (4.7%). The rate was higher than the statewide rate (4.0%) and the national rate (3.7%).