Nebraska labor holding on despite layoffs
NEBRASKA CITY- While the Nebraska Department of Labor lists companies that have complied with the Worker Adjustment and Restraining Notification in recent weeks, none of the 55 listings involve River Country companies.
The Nebraska Book Company in Lincoln announces a reduction of 242 employees, the e-commerce company Spreetail will reduce 220 in Omaha and Lincoln, Hy-Vee announces 512 at the Omaha fulfillment center and Specialty Retailers announces 432 layoffs in Omaha.
ITC Federal issued a WARN letter on Tuesday announcing a mass layoff at the Nebraska Service Center in Lincoln involving 141 jobs.
An Associated Press story says agribusiness giant Cargill is laying off thousands of employees this week. The cuts are expected to involve 8,000 of the company’s 160,000 employees worldwide.
Cargill operates in 70 countries and sells to 125 markets and is described with $160 billion in annual revenue.
The AP says while sticker prices for consumers are still higher than they were several years ago, prices for commodities that Cargill trades have fallen.
Cargill.com on Wednesday listed job openings at Nebraska City for general production, technicians, dock workers, mechanics and production supervisors.
The Nebraska Unemployment rate is at 2.7 percent, which ranks the state at the fifth lowest rate in the nation.
Total non-farm employment reached a record high in October, with an increase of 4,000 jobs filled compared to June.
Nebraska’s manufacturing sector expanded this year by $170 million, according to the Business Conditions Index from Creighton Economist Ernie Goss, who said the overall index for Mid-America was negative growth with job losses and mild inflation.