Young Professionals Weigh in on Living and Working in Omaha

➡️ What’s new: A new survey from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) and the Greater Omaha Chamber reveals that while most young professionals in Omaha are satisfied with job security and workplace relationships, dissatisfaction with pay and career advancement opportunities stands out as a major challenge.

💡 Why it matters: The findings spotlight critical gaps in meeting young professionals’ expectations, offering data-driven insights for employers and policymakers striving to retain and attract top talent in the region.

📈 By the numbers:

• Community strengths: Respondents praised Omaha’s entertainment (88%), healthcare access (89%), and parks (81%) but flagged housing affordability (51%) and transit options (73%) as areas for improvement.

• Pay and growth dissatisfaction: 41% of respondents expressed concerns about advancement opportunities, and 30% reported dissatisfaction with compensation.

• Workplace priorities: Flexibility, collaboration, and organizational values ranked as top factors for young professionals considering new opportunities.

🎤 What they’re saying:

• Josie Schafer, Ph.D., director of UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research: “These survey findings underscore the complexity of what young professionals are looking for in their workplaces and communities. The data is clear: while Omaha offers many strengths, there’s a real opportunity to address pay, professional growth, and other challenges to ensure the region remains competitive in attracting and retaining talent.”

• Heath Mello, President & CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, in a news release: “The results paint a picture of key insights and areas of focus that we can use to meet our community needs where they stand today and in the future We can identify our current strengths and use them to continue bettering our position amongst our peer cities. This report tells us there is almost unanimous support from young professionals in both advocating for more inclusive environments and supporting the quality-of-life Omaha has to offer. However, our work is far from done. We also find from the survey’s results some major challenges in reducing the tax burden, housing costs, and expanding transit options for us to target as well. This survey allows us to start from an informed position where we can lean into what is working and fix what is not, so we can continue driving Omaha forward.”

🌎 The big picture: These findings add to CPAR’s ongoing research on Nebraska’s workforce challenges, underscoring the need for strategic solutions to enhance Omaha’s competitiveness in retaining young talent.

⚡️What’s next: The Greater Omaha Chamber and CPAR will use the survey data to guide initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges and opportunities presented to young professionals in the area. CPAR will continue to partner with organizations across the state to provide actionable insights, ensuring Omaha remains a competitive and attractive place for young professionals to live and work. Future research will expand on these findings, diving deeper into workforce trends and community needs.