Nebraska Department of Labor

What Nebraska Department of Labor does

The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) is the State of Nebraska's official labor agency, founded in 1887 and headquartered at 550 S. 16th Street in Lincoln with additional offices in Nebraska City and nine other locations statewide, including American Job Centers in Beatrice, Columbus, Grand Island, Lexington, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha (operated by Heartland Workforce Solutions), and Scottsbluff. The agency administers unemployment insurance benefits (maximum $582/week in 2026), enforces labor standards, delivers reemployment services through the NEworks online portal and Good Life. Great Careers. initiative, and operates the state's workforce development system under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act across three local workforce development areas: Greater Lincoln, Greater Omaha, and Greater Nebraska covering 88 rural counties.

NDOL's core technology platform is NEworks, which integrates job search, resume posting, unemployment insurance claims, employer tax filing, and labor market information access. The agency runs a portfolio of specialized programs including Work Opportunity Tax Credits, Foreign Labor Certification (H-2A/H-2B), Trade Adjustment Assistance, Short-Time Compensation, Registered Apprenticeships, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, and Labor Standards/Workplace Safety consultation. Recent additions include the Rural Veterinarian Grant Program ($150K per recipient, 2025), the Manufacturing Modernization and Workforce Development Grant pilot ($50K per recipient with 1:1 matching, January 2026), the $40M Workforce Development Grant Program, and the Nebraska Workforce Pell Grant Program effective July 1, 2026. The agency also publishes Nebraska Workforce Trends magazine and a Statewide Landscape Assessment report.

NDOL's operating model is funded through State of Nebraska appropriations and employer unemployment insurance taxes, with no commercial pricing on constituent services; the agency is led by Commissioner of Labor Katie Thurber and State-Level Equal Opportunity Officer Justin Schroeder. Customer segments split primarily between job seekers (UI claimants, WIOA participants, veterans, seniors, justice-involved individuals) and Nebraska employers seeking tax credits, apprenticeship pipelines, and worker training grants, with secondary segments in agriculture (H-2A employers) and rural veterinary practices. Distribution is hybrid: 10 physical American Job Centers plus the self-serve NEworks digital portal.

Name

Nebraska Department of Labor

Legal name

Nebraska Department of Labor

Website

https://dol.nebraska.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Nebraska Department of Labor is a state government agency founded in 1887 that administers unemployment insurance, enforces labor standards, and delivers workforce development services to Nebraska job seekers, employers, and agriculture through 10 American Job Centers and the NEworks online portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Workforce Services

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration (BPAIABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Labor & Employment Administration (Workforce Regulation & Programs) (BPAIAAAM), Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Unemployment Insurance & Employment Support Benefits (BPAIAKAB)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Unemployment insurance administration
• Labor market information
• Employment tax credits
• Labor standards enforcement

Headquarters

HQ city

Nebraska City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Nebraska Department of Labor administers state and federal workforce programs including unemployment insurance benefits, job search and reemployment services through the NEworks online portal and American Job Centers, employer tax credit and grant programs (WOTC, Manufacturing Modernization Grants, Workforce Development Grants), labor standards enforcement, workplace safety consultations, and labor market information. The agency serves Nebraska job seekers and employers through a combination of digital tools, physical job centers, and field-based employer services.

Product overview

The Nebraska Department of Labor operates as a unified service platform providing employment, workforce development, and labor regulation services. The core offering is the NEworks online platform combined with physical American Job Centers delivering unemployment insurance, job search, and reemployment services. The portfolio includes specialized grant programs (Nebraska Manufacturing Modernization Grant up to $50,000, Rural Veterinarian Grant up to $150,000, Workforce Development Grants), federal programs (WIOA services, Trade Adjustment Assistance, Foreign Labor Certification), employer incentives (Work Opportunity Tax Credits, Registered Apprenticeships, Short-Time Compensation), and labor standards enforcement. Key new initiatives include the Nebraska Workforce Pell Grant Program (effective July 2026) and the Manufacturing Modernization pilot grant program (January 2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NEworks: Online portal for job searching, labor market information, and unemployment insurance services.
• Good Life. Great Careers.
• American Job Centers

Products and services

• NEworks (Nebraska Job Opportunities and Workforce System)

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $582 weekly benefit amount for unemployment insurance in 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Nebraska Community College System (Central, Southeast, Northeast, Mid-Plains, Western)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Career & Technical Education partnerships under WIOA providing training and educational programs for workforce development across all community colleges in Nebraska.
• Community Action Partnership of Mid-NebraskasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Community Services Block Grant partnership providing support services to communities across Nebraska through community action programs.
• ProteussupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Migrant & Seasonal Farmworker Programs partner (Title 1D) providing employment and training services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
• Winnebago Tribe and Ponca TribesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Native American Programs partnerships providing workforce development services to tribal communities in Nebraska.
• Nebraska Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIOA partner providing educational support and services to public, private, and nonpublic schools as well as institutions of higher education to enhance educational opportunities across the state.
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIOA partner supporting well-being of children, families, and seniors through assistance programs, health initiatives, and vital records services. Collaborates on SNAP Next Step and TANF programs.
• Nebraska Department of Veterans' AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides services to support veterans, their families, and caregivers including federal and state benefits assistance, care at state veterans' homes, and cemetery maintenance. County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) are part of the network.
• Vocational Rehabilitation ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized to issue Conditional Certifications for WOTC program. Partners with Nebraska VR and Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
• Greater Lincoln Workforce Development AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIOA local workforce development area serving Lancaster and Saunders Counties. Operates American Job Center in Lincoln.
• Greater Omaha Workforce Development Area (Heartland Workforce Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIOA local workforce development area serving Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington Counties. Operates American Job Center in Omaha.
• Greater Nebraska Workforce Development AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIOA local workforce development area covering 88 rural counties and multiple planning regions including Tri-Cities, Scottsbluff, Sidney, North Platte, McCook, Columbus, Norfolk and O'Neill.
• U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing funding and oversight for WOTC, WIOA, TAA, H-2A, H-2B, and other workforce programs administered by NDOL.
• University of Nebraska-LincolnsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in rural veterinarian recruitment through the Elite 11 scholarship pipeline covering full tuition for students who commit to 8 years of rural veterinary practice.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• California Labor and Workforce Development Agency: Umbrella state labor agency overseeing Employment Development Department (UI), labor standards, and workforce development in California. Comparable in mission but operates at much larger scale and broader portfolio than Nebraska's department.
• U.S. Department of Labor: Federal parent agency providing oversight, funding, and policy direction for WOTC, WIOA, TAA, H-2A, H-2B, and other programs administered by NDOL. NDOL operates as a state-level implementation arm of USDOL priorities.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: Pennsylvania's state labor agency providing unemployment compensation, workforce development, labor law compliance, and workplace safety. Direct peer with similar consolidated structure covering UI, workforce, and labor standards.
• Kansas Department of Labor: Neighboring state labor agency administering unemployment insurance, workforce development, labor standards enforcement, and apprenticeship programs. Directly comparable in scope, services offered, and rural Midwestern operating environment.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: Illinois state agency administering workforce development programs, employment services, and business incentives including WIOA programs. Comparable in workforce development focus with similar state-level operating structure.
• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: State labor agency providing unemployment insurance, workforce centers, labor standards, and workforce development programs. Comparable in service breadth including UI administration, job centers, and employer-focused workforce programs.
• Iowa Workforce Development: Iowa's state labor agency providing nearly identical services including unemployment insurance, workforce development (WIOA), job center network, and labor market information. Most comparable state peer given geographic proximity and similar agricultural/rural demographic profile.
• Texas Workforce Commission: Large state workforce agency operating Workforce Solutions offices (job centers), administering UI, WIOA programs, and Skills Development Fund grants. Direct peer operating with similar three-pronged mission of employment services, UI administration, and labor regulation.
• New York State Department of Labor: State labor department operating Career Center network, unemployment insurance system, and labor standards enforcement. Directly comparable in core mission and service delivery model across all three NDOL service pillars.
• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development: Wisconsin's integrated labor agency administering unemployment insurance, equal rights, worker's compensation, and workforce development. Closely mirrors NDOL's consolidated service model under a single cabinet-level department.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Nebraska.DOL
• Xx.com/ne_dol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nebraska-department-of-labor

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nebraska Department of Labor