View recent projects, publications, and presentations by the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research on topics including details on occupations, incomes, remote work, and entrepreneurship in Nebraska.
Access Census data for your Nebraska county in an easy to view and compare format.
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Entrepreneurship is Vital to Nebraska’s Growth and This Research Can Help Create More Opportunities for Nebraska’s Founders to Thrive11-17-25 | In collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, UNO CPAR examined Nebraska’s environmental and energy workforce. The Workforce Analysis for Nebraska's Comprehensive Climate Action Plan finds that this workforce is largely concentrated in construction and maintenance trades, with demand for skilled workers in these areas both high and growing — presenting clear opportunities for workforce development and career pathways. |
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Entrepreneurship is Vital to Nebraska’s Growth and This Research Can Help Create More Opportunities for Nebraska’s Founders to Thrive10-22-25 | UNO CPAR is proud to share Advancing Nebraska’s Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, a new series of three interrelated studies, supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Together, these studies examine how Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to evolve — its strengths, its challenges, and the people shaping what comes next. The series includes:
Collectively, these studies highlight pathways to strengthen Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and ensure innovation and opportunity thrive statewide. Media Mention: |
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Who's Working, Where, and In What Kinds of Jobs?6-11-25 | CPAR created a workforce infographic to bring key trends into focus — offering a visual snapshot of employment, wages, and more. This resource helps policymakers, employers, educators, and community leaders better understand the people and patterns shaping our regional economy. Explore the data and see how Nebraska’s workforce is changing — and what it means for the future. |
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Construction Workforce and Businesses in Nebraska4-4-25 | CPAR recently provided the Nebraska Building Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Inc., a data brief about construction turnover and retention in Nebraska. The brief includes data about occupations, demographics, earnings, economic impact, and more. |
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CPAR Collaborates with UNMC to Analyze the Status and Future of the Healthcare Workforce in Nebraska5-29-24 | CPAR collaborated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center to project employment trends in the healthcare sector and explore the opportunities and challenges involved in maintaining and growing Nebraska's healthcare workforce. Our analysis aims to provide strategic insights to support the development of a robust and sustainable healthcare system in the state. Media Mentions: |
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Where Nebraska Workers Live4-9-24 | 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 Bureau12-18-23 | 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. Media Mentions:
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Nebraska Tech Collaborative Dashboard Developed to Provide Data on the Technology Workforce of Nebraska9-8-23 | 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 Nebraska8-16-23 | 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 Mentions: |
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Foreign-born Labor Force5-23-23 | 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 Mentions:
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University of Nebraska Board of Regents Presentation about Workforce and Education Demographics2-10-23 | 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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Population and Workforce Trends in the State11-7-22 | 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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Nebraska’s Women in STEM: Listen Then Act6-9-22 | 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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Entrepreneurship in Nebraska1-4-22 | Through a review of baseline data on entrepreneurship in Nebraska, interviews, and a survey, the Entrepreneurship in Nebraska Report summarizes the key challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurship development in Nebraska from the perspective of the statewide entrepreneurship ecosystem. Media Mentions: |
View additional materials on the following Nebraska By The Numbers topics:
- Community and economic development including digital equity, economic development, rural transit, rural youth and young professional surveys, and voter turnout.
- Data for policy and decision makers including housing, poverty, and demographic dashboards by county in Nebraska.