Nebraska By The Numbers highlights recent projects, publications, and presentations by the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research. Our work is organized by the following topics:
- Data for policy and decision makers including housing, poverty, and demographic dashboards by county in Nebraska.
- Workforce access and equity including details on occupations, incomes, remote work, and entrepreneurship in Nebraska.
- Community and economic development including digital equity, rural transit, and the rural youth and young professional surveys.
- Metro Nebraska including surveys, voter turnout, and economic development.
Data for Policy and Decision Makers
Access Census data for your Nebraska county in an easy to view and compare format.
Housing Availability and Quality Grow as Concerns in Nebraska9/26/2023 | Research by UNO CPAR has shown that job opportunities have been a main driver of domestic migration away from Nebraska. However, in 2022 housing availability and quality have grown as concerns. Explore these topics in a brief on housing availability and quality in Nebraska. Media Mention: |
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Housing Perceptions in Nebraska1/9/2023 | 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. housing need income rent affordability access community |
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Poverty in Nebraska12/6/2022 | 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. business workforce |
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Childhood Poverty11/10/2022 | UNO CPAR Director Josie Schafer spoke with Cathy Wyatt and community leaders on the topic of childhood poverty that aired on Nebraska Public Media. business workforce |
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Review of Demographics, Workforce, and Housing in Omaha Neighborhoods10/11/2022 | 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. business workforce |
Workforce Access and Equity
CPAR Partners with William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies to Study Nebraska's Labor Movement4/29/2024 | CPAR partnered with the William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies, also housed in UNO's College of Public Affairs and Community Service, to study perceptions of organized labor in Nebraska. The survey findings demonstrate that there is strong support for organized labor among union members and non-union members in Nebraska. Read the executive summary and full report to learn more. |
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Where Nebraska Workers Live4/9/2024 | This brief explores the commuter patterns of workers that live in Nebraska and Iowa. CPAR found that workers are more likely to live in Iowa and work in Nebraska than work in Iowa and live in Nebraska, although most workers in Nebraska, live in Nebraska, 93%. These findings indicate that Nebraska has a strong regional economy, with ample opportunities for the workforce; yet, housing and other quality of life factors could be improved to ensure those that work in Nebraska choose to live in Nebraska. |
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Nebraska Faces Ongoing Brain Drain According to Latest 2022 American Community Survey Data from the United States Census Bureau12/18/2023 | The recently released data from the 2022 American Community Survey from the United States Census Bureau reveals a persistent challenge for Nebraska as brain drain continued and increased from the previous year. Read the release. Media Mention:
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Nebraska Tech Collaborative Dashboard Developed to Provide Data on the Technology Workforce of Nebraska9/8/2023 | 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. Media Mention: |
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Exploring Remote Work in Nebraska8/16/2023 | 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: |
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Foreign-born Labor Force5/23/2023 | 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: |
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Women and Entrepreneurship in Nebraska5/15/2023 | 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. |
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Population and Workforce Trends in the State3/16/2023 | 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. business workforce |
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University of Nebraska Board of Regents Presentation about Workforce and Education Demographics2/10/2023 | 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:
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UNO Strategic Planning | Workforce Development12/5/2022 | 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. business workforce |
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Population and Workforce Trends in the State11/7/2022 | Review a webinar discussion between Nebraska Chamber President Bryan Sloan and UNO CPAR Director Josie Schafer on population and workforce trends in the state. business workforce |
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CPAR Receives Inclusive Ecosystems Grant10/11/2022 | 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. business workforce |
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Nebraska’s Women in STEM: Listen Then Act6/9/2022 | Women in Nebraska’s workforce frequently encounter and overcome gender barriers as they pursue careers in STEM fields in Nebraska, according to a new report released this month by the Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Bio Nebraska and Nebraska Cures commissioned the report with NASA Nebraska Space Grant funding for a graduate student research assistant. Learn more at NebraskaWomenInSTEM.com.
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Community and Economic Development
CPAR Partners with UNO Department of Gerontology to Conduct Focus Groups on Digital Equity for Statewide Digital Equity Plan11/2/2023 | CPAR partnered with faculty in the UNO Department of Gerontology to conduct four focus groups on digital equity for the Nebraska Information Technology Commission to inform the creation of a statewide digital equity plan. Focus groups were conducted with specific covered populations across Nebraska, including older adults, individuals from low-income households, rural residents, and individuals with limited English proficiency. Read the report to learn more. The draft State Digital Opportunities Plan is now available and public comment on the draft plan can be submitted online until January 2, 2024. |
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CPAR Partners with Do Space Library to Evaluate Tech Pack Program10/6/2023 | CPAR partnered with the Do Space Library in Omaha to conduct a longitudinal evaluation of its Tech Pack Program. Do Space received funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund from the Federal Communications Commission to conduct the Teck Pack Program in Omaha, Nebraska, between June 30, 2022 to June 29, 2023. As part of the Tech Pack Program, 945 Omaha residents received a computing device and free internet access for one year. Review the report to understand the broad impact of the Tech Pack Program in promoting digital equity for Omaha residents. Learn more about the Tech Pack Program. Media Mention: |
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Faces of Transit in Nebraska Video Series Creating Awareness of Available Services Statewide10/2/2023 | For many in rural communities, transit is a lifeline. Rural transit agencies connect people to healthcare, work, education, and civic life. As a result, public transportation in Nebraska is vital to the state’s economic prosperity and future. Many agencies in Nebraska are doing new things like starting up new service in an unserved area, building bus barns to house their vehicles, and holding open houses to educate the public about their services. The Faces of Transit in Nebraska video series explores who the agency serves and where they take their passengers, so others understand how the service works. The Nebraska Public Transit team partnered with White Shutter Media to create this video series as part of efforts to grow rural transit options in Nebraska. |
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2023 Greater Nebraska Youth Survey Data Affirms Young Nebraskans’ Preference for Small Communities8/7/2023 | 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:
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Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals Survey of Nebraska Residents and Why They Moved Away4/17/2023 | 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. |
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Driver Recruitment and Retention Survey for Public Transit Agencies3/2/2023 | 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. transit manager wages benefits dispatcher driver |
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CPAR Director Receives CUMU-Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellowship2/13/2023 | 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. housing need income rent affordability access community |
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Impact of Nebraska Community Foundation Youth Survey Data12/13/2022 | 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. business workforce |
Metro Nebraska
Nebraska's Second Congressional District4/26/2024 | As Nebraska gets closer to its 2024 Primary, KETV Investigates took a closer look at how the state's Second Congressional District has changed since the last presidential election year. "Redistricting is a constitutional requirement that after every census, we try to make voting areas as equal in population as possible so we really live up to the idea of one person, one vote," said Josie Schafer, director of UNO CPAR. |
To view past projects visit the #NebraskaByTheNumbers Archive.