Nebraska state agencies have eliminated seven employee positions in an effort to deal with budget woes.

State personnel director Mike McCrory says the layoff plans were approved according to labor union agreements. Three layoffs were effective Tuesday; four will be effective July 17.

Two positions were eliminated from the Game and Parks Commission, two from the Department of Agriculture and three from the Historical Society.

McCrory says the number of layoffs was kept low because departments found ways to re-engineer jobs or did not fill vacant positions.

However, McCrory says more layoffs could follow through the end of the year, depending on the effect of budget reductions or work reorganization.