Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in January, a drop from the previous month in December when it was at 5.4%, and lower than the year before  when it was at 5.9%.  However the county unemployment rate remains higher than the statewide rate at 4.3% and essentially the same as the national rate at 4.8%. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment jumped by 110 in January to 18,000 jobs. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A loss of 280 jobs was expected for the month, but the county shed only 170 jobs. The private sector employment fell by 140, and government employment dipped by 30.

Trade, transportation, and utilities shed 100 jobs and leisure and hospitality cut 90. Food manufacturing added 90 jobs. Other industries had smaller changes. January’s total nonfarm employment was 90 more than one year before, a growth rate of 0.5 percent. The private sector added 70 jobs, and government employment rose by 20. Industries adding the most jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation, and utilities, and financial activities. Local government, excluding education and tribal, added 50 jobs over the year. State government cut 50 jobs.