The Nebraska Department of Labor has released nine reports detailing results from the labor availability study of Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney businesses and households.  See the attached fact sheet for a sample of the findings from the Labor Availability Reports, Hiring and Training Needs Reports and Skills Gaps Reports for each city.  The reports were based on business and household surveys and are part of a joint research project involving the Departments of Labor and Economic Development and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research and Bureau of Sociological Research.

The full Central Nebraska reports can be found online at NEworks.nebraska.gov on the Labor Market Information Publications page.

The reports include:

• Household Data
  • Statistics on Active and Potential Seekers – those who are actively seeking work or may accept a new job in the next year if something suitable is available
    • General demographic characteristics (age, gender, race, education level, veteran status)  
    • Important factors considered when seeking a new job and barriers faced when switching jobs
    • Characteristics of job seekers (education, skill levels, occupation/industry experience)

 

• Business Data
  • Characteristics of businesses (size, industry)
  • Hiring needs (number of openings, skills required, benefits offered, hiring difficulties)
  • Current workers (skill levels, work experience, planning for expected retirements)
  • Training offered

 

• Skills Gap Information and Analysis
  • Supply and Demand of Workers
  • Barriers to Employment and the Local Labor Market
  • Detailed Evaluation of Select Occupations

 

Contacts:

Nebraska Department of Labor: Grace Johnson, 402-471-4189, grace.johnson@nebraska.gov

Nebraska Department of Economic Development: Kate Ellingson, 402-471-3749, kate.ellingson@nebraska.gov

University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Eric Thompson, 402-472-3318, ethompson2@unl.edu