Central Nebraska Surveys Now Being Collected

LINCOLN – NDOL has released the Greater Lincoln Area Labor Availability and Hiring Needs Report.  The report covers results from surveys completed by employers and workers in parts of Lancaster, Saunders, Cass, Otoe, Gage, and Seward counties. The survey was conducted from August to October 2022. The survey area population in total includes over 254,500 adults and an estimated total labor force of 185,601, with 1,220 businesses and 1,059 households responding. A report on the survey findings is available at NEworks.nebraska.gov.  Survey findings specific to employer benefits offered are covered in the January issue of Nebraska Workforce Trends.

Job Seeker Findings

• The survey found an estimated 108,566 potential job seekers 18 and older in the survey area. 
• Factors most important to potential job seekers when considering new employment were salary, paid vacation, job security and stability, and paid holidays.
• Most employed potential job seekers listed security and stability, work schedule, using their existing skills, and company values as factors that lead to job satisfaction.
• The most common obstacles to employment reported by potential job seekers were inadequate pay offered by local area employers and work schedule flexibility.

Employer Findings

• The top three industries identified by survey respondents as difficult to hire were construction; accommodation and food services; and administration and waste services.
• Businesses indicated that over 77 percent of their frequently hired jobs were difficult to fill. 
• Employers’ most cited reasons for difficulty finding workers were a lack of applicants, wage demands being too high, and applicants’ lack of work experience.
• Top skills that employers said employees need additional training in include leadership, critical thinking and problem solving.
• Over 88 percent of businesses responding to the survey said they had upped pay to increase their candidate pool, and over half said they had increased benefits.

Central Nebraska Surveys Due March 31

In addition to compiling survey data from Crete and Seward for upcoming reports, NDOL is now collecting responses to the Central Nebraska Survey of Hiring and Training Needs. If your business received a survey, the survey should be completed by an owner, senior manager, human resources specialist or supervisor who is knowledgeable about the hiring and training needs of your company.  Responses are due March 31.

More NDOL press releases are accessible at dol.nebraska.gov.