Nebraska's unemployment rate held steady at 4.9 percent in October even as the national rate crept up to 10.2 percent.

The figures released Friday show the Nebraska unemployment rate is the second-lowest in the nation after North Dakota's 4.2 percent.

The Nebraska Department of Labor says the state rate did not change from September's 4.9 percent, but the October 2009 rate is 1.3 percentage points higher than the 3.6 percent in October 2008.

Nebraska Labor Commissioner Catherine Lang says Nebraska's economy appears to be on the road to recovery. The number of layoffs and business closures have slowed in the state, and unemployment remains relatively low.