#NebraskaByTheNumbers

Nebraska Tech Collaborative Dashboard Developed to Provide Data on the Technology Workforce of Nebraska

9/8/2023 | CPAR recently worked with the Nebraska Tech Collaborative (NTC) to develop the NTC Data Dashboard to provide reliable and timely data on the technology workforce of Nebraska in a visual platform that is easy to use and access. The dashboard will empower stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, philanthropists, and industry professionals with insights to make informed decisions and drive positive change in Nebraska's technology workforce. We intend for the dashboard to be updated regularly to meet the needs of its users.

Exploring Remote Work in Nebraska

8/16/2023 | CPAR has received quite a few requests recently for data on our workforce and particularly trends in remote work. We delved into microdata to bring you insights on remote work in Nebraska, how we compare to other states, and the specifics of when and where Nebraskans choose to work in other states.

Media Mention:

• Nebraska Examiner
• Flatwater Free Press

2023 Greater Nebraska Youth Survey Data Affirms Young Nebraskans’ Preference for Small Communities

8/7/2023 | CPAR Director Josie Schafer has partnered with the Nebraska Community Foundation for four years to produce the Greater Nebraska Youth Survey for the Nebraska Community Foundation. This data has informed projects and partnerships throughout the state. Read the 2023 Greater Nebraska Youth Survey report.

Media Mentions:

• Omaha World Herald
• KLKN-TV Channel 8
• Norfolk Daily News
• Kearney Hub
• The North Platte Telegraph
• The Columbus Telegram

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Foreign-born Labor Force

5/23/2023 | CPAR recently compiled data showing how foreign-born people in Nebraska have a higher labor participation rate than the state’s U.S.-born population. The data also shows that perhaps more pertinent to the current labor crunch, that low-wage service and production jobs are more likely to be filled by the foreign-born also are the jobs that today have a high rate of openings in Nebraska.

Media Mention:

• Nebraska Examiner

Women and Entrepreneurship in Nebraska

5/15/2023 | CPAR was featured in a Nebraska examiner article about women and entrepreneurship. Learn more about CPAR's research on inclusive entrepreneurship. Find out who won the second annual Minority Small Business Summit Pitch Competition, which is a direct investment of funding into Nebraska’s underrepresented business owners.

Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals Survey of Nebraska Residents and Why They Moved Away

4/17/2023 | Just before the pandemic, CPAR worked with the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals to conduct a survey of former residents of Nebraska about why they moved away. Insights for the report have been receiving attention and we wanted to share the report in full. View a recent Lincoln Journal Star editorial about this topic.

Community Survey for Manhattan, Kansas

4/17/2023 | UNO CPAR developed a community survey for Manhattan, Kansas, and assisted with the marketing plan as well as mailing postcards to residents. CPAR will analyze the survey results, develop an online dashboard, provide overtime analyses, and make a presentation of results to the Manhattan City Council. Listen to a news story from WIBW13 about the survey. See past survey results.

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Population and Workforce Trends in the State

3/16/2023 | Review a webinar discussion between UNO CPAR Director Josie Schafer, Open Sky Policy Institute Executive Director Rebecca Firestone, and Cornell University's Cristobal Young on what influences interstate migration and the role taxes may play. Schafer pointed out recent trends in brain drain out of Nebraska and how the data shows a lesser link between tax policy and keeping workers in Nebraska.

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Driver Recruitment and Retention Survey for Public Transit Agencies

3/2/2023 | Driver recruitment and retention continues to be a challenge for many transit agencies across Nebraska. In an effort to address this problem, CPAR partnered with the Nebraska Safety Center at the University of Nebraska at Kearney to conduct a survey of drivers across the state. This project is part of our ongoing partnership with the Nebraska Department of Transportation to support more efficient and effective rural public transit in Nebraska. View the Recruitment and Retention of Nebraska's Transit Drivers report.

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CPAR Director Receives CUMU-Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellowship

2/13/2023 | CPAR Director Josie Schafer has been named the 2023 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities–Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellow to explore and explain variations in the economic impact of anchor institutions.

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University of Nebraska Board of Regents Presentation about Workforce and Education Demographics

2/10/2023 | CPAR Director Josie Schafer presented to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents on the changing education and workforce demographics impacting Nebraska. View the recording and presentation slides.

Media Mentions:

• An article in the Nebraska Examiner describes how Nebraska's shifting workforce demands amid 'brain drain' should sound an alarm.
• Omaha's 6 News WOWT took a deeper look into why Nebraskans are leaving the state.
• An article in the Lincoln Journal Star tells how University of Nebraska is looking to reverse the trend of Nebraska losing college graduates to other states.
• University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter wrote an op-ed about how now is the time to take the NU System's growth opportunity and create its next chapter of economic and workforce success.
• An article in the Nebraska Examiner written by Creighton University's President Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson discusses fostering brain gain and how it starts with nurturing a desire for purpose.
• An article in the Daily Nebraskan talks to a special education student who isn't planning to stay in Nebraska after graduation partly because of recent legislation around teaching in Nebraska.
• An article in the Nebraska Examiner shows that across several measures and data sets, jobs and professional growth rise as the major motivation driving migration patterns for why people leave Nebraska.
• Schafer recently had a conversation with Tom Knoblauch, Riverside Chats on KIOS Omaha Public Radio, about her research on Nebraska’s concerning demographic trends, the root causes of brain drain, and what steps may be taken to mitigate concerns as job requirements shift over the coming decades.
• Schafer recently had a conversation with Bill Schammert, KETV Newswatch 7 Chronicle, for Part 3 of Workforce Retention in Omaha. They discussed brain drain and how state leaders can keep Nebraska's best and brightest right here in our communities.

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Nebraska CASA Cost Benefit Analysis

2/2/2023 | CPAR partnered with UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work's Laurel Sariscsany to conduct a cost benefit analysis of the Nebraska CASA association.

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Housing Perceptions in Nebraska

1/9/2023 | CPAR partnered with the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority to conduct analysis of focus group data regarding housing perceptions in Nebraska for the statewide strategic housing plan. Over 170 responses were analyzed and provide key insights on challenges and opportunities related to housing in Nebraska. A recent article in the Nebraska Examiner describes a new Nebraska ‘housing council’ assembled to implement the Nebraska Strategic Housing Framework, which includes CPAR’s analysis.

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Impact of Nebraska Community Foundation Youth Survey Data

12/13/2022 | CPAR Director Josie Schafer has partnered with the Nebraska Community Foundation for three years to produce the Nebraska Youth Survey. This data has informed projects and partnerships throughout the state. Check out all the great work from the Nebraska Community Foundation in their 2022 annual report and their 2022 Connect video.

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Poverty in Nebraska

12/6/2022 | After years of declining poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the well-being of Nebraskans in many ways, including an increase in poverty. As a result, UNO CPAR gathered a range of U.S. Census data sources to produce an infographic on poverty in Nebraska. Watch KLKN's coverage of the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska's Healthy Families, Strong Communities conference where nonprofits, policymakers, and state officials all came to discuss better ways to help struggling Nebraska families.

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UNO Strategic Planning | Workforce Development

12/5/2022 | UNO CPAR continues to analyze Nebraska’s workforce. CPAR Director Josie Schafer recently spoke at UNO’s strategic planning forum on the importance of our contributions to workforce development in Nebraska.

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Childhood Poverty

11/10/2022 | UNO CPAR Director Josie Schafer spoke with Cathy Wyatt and community leaders on the topic of childhood poverty that aired on Nebraska Public Media.

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Population and Workforce Trends in the State

11/7/2022 | Review a webinar discussion between Nebraska Chamber President Bryan Sloan and UNO CPAR Director Josie Schafer on population and workforce trends in the state.

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Review of Demographics, Workforce, and Housing in Omaha Neighborhoods

10/11/2022 | At the request of Olsson, CPAR prepared a review of data on demographics, workforce, and housing in North Omaha and South Omaha for the LB 1024 Coordination Plan. Read an article by The Reader that includes some key findings from CPAR's reports about how investments (or the lack thereof) of time, energy, and money impact the places people live.

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CPAR Receives Inclusive Ecosystems Grant

10/11/2022 | The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is granting UNO CPAR $310,000 to conduct original research on the impacts of representation and decision-making in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Read more.

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Demographic Analysis and Survey Data Book for Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska

10/6/2022 | CPAR partnered with Brandi Liberty, owner of Heroda Bikax^e Consulting LLC, to provide demographic analysis for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN). CPAR also provided analysis and data presentation for a recent survey of over 800 ITKN members. The survey was conducted by Heroda Bikax^e. Review the survey data book and summary slide deck to learn more.

CPAR Research Partners with Goodrich Scholarship Program for Return on Investment Analysis

9/22/2022 | CPAR partnered with the Goodrich Scholarship Program to conduct a return on investment analysis of this long running and impactful UNO program. Read the report and the stories of some Goodrich Scholarship students.

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CPAR Research Associate's Journey to Become a U.S. Citizen and His Evaluation of a Do Space Program

9/15/2022 | CPAR’s summer research associate and UNO SPA Ph.D. candidate was recently featured in the Nebraska Examiner about his journey to become a U.S. citizen. Blanco is working with CPAR to evaluate a Do Space program that provided online computing devices to 945 Omaha area residents for one year. Blanco said "Using an equity lens to evaluate the Do Space Tech Program is important, as it allows us researchers to assess not only the overall effectiveness, but also the disparate effects of the program on individuals due to their race, gender, disability status, among other intersected identities."

2021 Nebraska Data Users Conference Recording on Nebraska’s Workforce

9/7/2022 | The 2022 CPAR Data and Research Series for Community Impact is going on right now so sharing a recording from 2021 on Nebraska’s Workforce that we think still has a lot of relevance.

Nebraska Community Foundation Youth Executive Summary

9/7/2022 | For the past three years CPAR has worked with the Nebraska Community Foundation to survey over 3,200 youth in 26 Greater Nebraska communities. Review the Executive Summary from the 2022 Greater Nebraska Youth Survey to learn more.