(KLZA)-- Unemployment rates in Southeast Nebraska continue to be very low.

In May, Nebraska had an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent, tied with Vermont for the second-lowest rate in the nation,  trailing only the 2.5 percent jobless rate in New Hampshire. 

Locally, Pawnee County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast Nebraska region at 1.7 percent. Elsewhere the unemployment rates are 2.4 percent in Richardson County, 2.6 percent in Johnson County,  2.3 percent in Nemaha County, Nebraska,  2.2 percent in Gage County and 2.1 percent in Otoe County. 

The Nebraska unemployment rate is less than half of the 5.4 percent jobless rate in May of 2020.  

Kansas ranks eighth with an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent.  Iowa is 10th at 3.9 percent.  Missouri is 17th at 4.2 percent.  Hawaii has the highest jobless rate in the nation at 8.1 percent.