The preliminary June rate matches the June 2017 figure and is well below the current overall U.S. rate, which rose to 4 percent last month from 3.8 percent in May.

“The increase in the unemployment rate corresponded with an increase in new entrants to the labor force,” said state Labor Commissioner John Albin. “Nonfarm employment continued to climb in June, reaching another new high.”

State nonfarm employment for June was 1,041,142, up nearly 1,800 for the month and more than 15,000 for the year. Private industries with the most year to year growth were manufacturing, up 3,951; professional and business services, up 3,516; and leisure and hospitality, up 2,846. Month to month, the largest gains were seen in mining and construction, up 1,999; professional and business services, up 1,907; and leisure and hospitality (up 816).

The preliminary Omaha-area rate rose to 3.1 percent in June from 2.8 percent in May. The new rate is a tenth of a point lower than that of June 2017. Lincoln’s preliminary rate also rose three-tenths of a point, to 2.9 percent, matching the year-ago figure. Grand Island’s preliminary rate for June rose to 3.1 percent from 2.9 percent in May. The new figure was a tenth of a point higher than June 2017.

The unemployment rates for Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha have not been seasonally adjusted, so they cannot be directly compared with the state unemployment rate.

Here are preliminary area labor market unemployment rates for June, followed by the May rates:

— Beatrice: 3.4, 3.0

— Columbus: 3.0 2.8

— Fremont: 3.0, 2.8

— Hastings: 3.4, 2.8

— Kearney: 2.7, 2.5

— Lexington: 2.9, 2.7

— Norfolk: 2.8, 2.5

— North Platte: 3.3, 2.8

— Red Willow: 3.0, 2.5

— Scottsbluff: 3.4, 3.2