Employment by state and metropolitan area-

[strangerthings]

The Omaha recovery peaked in June 2021 and has not made much movement back in that direction since.

Any idea why? Seems like every single business is using the "Were understaffed" excuse right now. Not just fast food, all sorts of businesses.

Labor Force is not back to pre-pandemic levels. July was maybe 10-15,000 below LF of 2019 July.

July 2021 LF: 496.0
July 2021 Non-Farm Employment: 494.3
August 2021 Non-Farm: 494.5

So almost everyone in the labor force is employed (which is why the unemployment rate is so low) but the labor force is still down from where it was before. There aren't really many unemployed persons looking for a job left to hire. In the absence of people looking for jobs, Omaha businesses have no pool to draw from to get employment back up to 2019 levels. People either died, moved away, or decided they didn't want to work anymore which has hampered the recovery it seems. Delta variant could also be part of the problem but I am leaning towards a lack of people to fill open positions.

Let's take a look at some other cities in the region:

Des Moines: Over in Des Moines, non-farm employment is above their metro labor force. They similary saw non-farm employment peak in June 2021 and have been declining ever since then. Their employment recovery is around 2018 numbers.

Oklahoma City: LF and Employment at all time highs. Albeit, LF starting to decline again. Non-farm employment is down from a June peak.

Kansas City: This issue is not replicated in Kansas City. Labor Force and Employment are at all time highs there. 2% month over month employment growth and 1% month-month labor force growth. Non-farm employment however is just reaching 2019 levels.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Still not concerned..

We recently, at my place of employment, held an impromptu “Career Fair”, which yielded several excellent candidates and several offers were extended and accepted..

Numbers like these posted can be manipulated to look pretty much any way you want..

But the Omaha metropolitan area grew by 103,000 people this past decade and if we look at what’s ahead with the diversity of job opportunities here, especially in the medical and medical tech arena, Omaha is poised to attract many, while at the same time, enhancing young people to stick around after college..

Omaha will be just fine and is poised to have its biggest growth decade in 70 years…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[strangerthings]

Still not concerned..

Ciao..LiO…Peace

nothing to be concerned about. Businesses here in Omaha are doing well enough that "everyone" looking for a job has one. That is a good problem for now. Just need to get people back into the labor force so Omaha can start growing again

[ita]

Jobs are everywhere in Nebraska. Workers? Not so much

There’s never been a better time to find a job in Nebraska.

That was a quote from Gov. Pete Ricketts contained in a Friday announcement celebrating Nebraska's record-low August unemployment rate of 2.2%.

But there may never have been a worse time for companies looking to find workers in the state.

A recent study from careers website CareerCloud found that Nebraska has the second-worst labor shortage in the country, with 1.8 jobs open for every unemployed person. That was second only to the District of Columbia.

That shortage has shown itself most acutely in the services sector, where numerous businesses have had to cut back hours and even close locations temporarily because of a lack of available workers.
...
Nebraska Commissioner of Labor John Albin said Friday that the number of people employed in August finally reached its pre-pandemic level, at just short of 1 million. That number was about 12,000 more than a year ago. However, the number of jobs increased more than 33,000 from a year ago, leaving a gap of more than 20,000.

The numbers were similar in the Lincoln area, with the number of employed people having increased about 5,200 from a year ago, but the number of jobs available up by more than 7,100.

That mismatch has led to an "incredibly tight" labor market, Bryan Seck said.

Lincoln MSA has an unemployment rate of 1.7%. There was also information about the Kawasaki hiring. They had about 100 people attend the job fair and, essentially, people passing a skills assessment test is getting a conditional offer.

[Garrett]

Looks like it’s a good thing we’re opening back up to refugees then.

[ita]

Looks like it’s a good thing we’re opening back up to refugees then.

I had the exact same thought.

[strangerthings]

August 2021 Labor Force and Employment data was published today:

LF decreased 5.5 thousand to 491.1. Employment declined 3.8 thousand to 480.0

Augusts reports from 2021 to 2011.

[ita]

Nebraska's jobless rate of 2% sets state record and is lowest in nation

Nebraska set a record low unemployment rate in September, as the labor market remains extremely tight.

The state Department of Labor said the 2% rate last month was the lowest recorded in state data going back to 1976. The rate also tied the lowest rate ever recorded for any state.

The 2% rate was the nation's lowest for September.

The Omaha area recorded a low 1.7% unemployment rate. The Lincoln area also set a record, with an extremely low 1.3% rate.

While those numbers show how well the state and local economies are doing right now, they highlight the struggles that businesses face in trying to find enough workers.

Wowzers.

[Garrett]

But be sure to keep out immigrants and refugees eh?

[Omaha Cowboy]

I don’t think that’s the plan..for the Omaha metropolitan area at least…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[GrandpaaSmucker]

You don't suppose just maybe that the guys that so shamelessly and unscrupulously manipulated the Covid data to make Nebraska look like the safest place in the country would also manipulate the unemployment data.

I mean come on ......if you do not know a bunch of unemployed people and have unemployed members of your own family I would suggest you are leading a sheltered life and need to get out a little. Of course it can get expensive going around those unemployed people especially the family members. It has always costed me money to go around my friends and family did I say that yet.

[strangerthings]

You don't suppose just maybe that the guys that so shamelessly and unscrupulously manipulated the Covid data to make Nebraska look like the safest place in the country would also manipulate the unemployment data.

I mean come on ......if you do not know a bunch of unemployed people and have unemployed members of your own family I would suggest you are leading a sheltered life and need to get out a little. Of course it can get expensive going around those unemployed people especially the family members. It has always costed me money to go around my friends and family did I say that yet.

August labor force is down around 12,000 from August 2019. Employment down around 10,000 in the same time frame. About 2% less employed. This is for the Omaha metro.

[strangerthings]

Omaha added 1300 non-farm employment from August to September, 496.7 is the preliminary number. September labor force and employment will come out in early November.

[Dundeemaha]

Do they get unemployment numbers based on how many people were able to navigate that disaster zone of a website to apply for unemployment?

That is literally the worst website I've ever had the misfortune of using. I'm a software developer and I eventually just gave up and called the department of labor. Terrible navigation that doesn't match the written instructions from the letter, dead links, etc

[strangerthings]

Do they get unemployment numbers based on how many people on unemployment benefits?

tc

No, that is one of the first common wrong assumptions listed on the BLS website.

[Dundeemaha]

Coincidentally, I saw this article today:



Was very informative.

[ita]

Nebraska sets another unemployment record; Iowa creeps under 4%

For the second straight month, the Nebraska Department of Labor has announced that the state’s unemployment rate has reached a record low.

The statement came Friday with Nebraska reporting a 1.9% unemployment rate across the state. More specifically, the release shows that Omaha has a 1.7% unemployment rate with Lincoln coming in even lower at 1.3%. In Sept., the state’s unemployment rate was at 2%.

The NDOL reports that Nebraska’s 1.9% unemployment in Oct. is well below the national average of 4.6%.

Reports show that Nebraska ranks #1 in the nation for unemployment rate and #1 for employment-to-population ratio, 68.4%. The Good Life state ranks second in labor force participation with 68.4%, the NDOL states.

[strangerthings]

non-farm emplpyment was updated

Nice increase from 496.7 in sept to 502.2 in October

[ita]

Nebraska unemployment drops again to lowest on record in US

Nebraska's unemployment rate dropped once again to the lowest level on record in November, beating the previous national record it set the prior month, according to labor statistics released Friday.

The State Department of Labor reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 1.8% last month, down from 1.9% in October. No other state has seen its rate drop below 2% since data collection began in 1976.

Nebraska has maintained its status as the state with the lowest rate through much of the pandemic. The October rate was down slightly from the September rate of 2%.

Nebraska has struggled with a chronic worker shortage even before the pandemic, a trend that has driven up wages and made it difficult for employers to hire and expand. Prominent business groups in the state have identified the lack of employees as their top concern.

The average rate is even lower in Nebraska's largest cities. The Omaha area reported an unemployment rate of 1.5%, while the Lincoln area had a 1.1% rate and Grand Island recorded 1.2%.

[Erik]

Nebraska unemployment drops again to lowest on record in US

Nebraska's unemployment rate dropped once again to the lowest level on record in November, beating the previous national record it set the prior month, according to labor statistics released Friday.

The State Department of Labor reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 1.8% last month, down from 1.9% in October. No other state has seen its rate drop below 2% since data collection began in 1976.

Nebraska has maintained its status as the state with the lowest rate through much of the pandemic. The October rate was down slightly from the September rate of 2%.

Nebraska has struggled with a chronic worker shortage even before the pandemic, a trend that has driven up wages and made it difficult for employers to hire and expand. Prominent business groups in the state have identified the lack of employees as their top concern.

The average rate is even lower in Nebraska's largest cities. The Omaha area reported an unemployment rate of 1.5%, while the Lincoln area had a 1.1% rate and Grand Island recorded 1.2%.

It's a good thing we have we have a progressive state leadership who aims to make Nebraska appealing to skilled workers.

[nativeomahan]

The tumbleweeds might outnumber the people living in Nebraska.

[ita]

Omaha metro among major cities struggling to find qualified construction workers

Lauren Melendez
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Omaha is lagging behind other metro cities when it comes to construction, but it’s not for lack of opportunities.

Instead, it’s people.

Despite all the cars forced to navigate cones near job sites, Omaha needs more construction workers.

A report from the Associated General Contractors of American outlines construction jobs in the Omaha metro fell by 1% from November of 2020 to November 2021.

Specifically, that amounts to 30,200, down from 30,500. It may seem like there’s work being done everywhere - from downtown to Elkhorn, but the report would suggest otherwise.

Omaha now ranks 288th in the U.S. for construction employment, but it’s not just a Nebraska problem. A third of the 358 metro cities surveyed, report they lost construction jobs or stayed flat.

So what’s the overarching issue? Experts say qualified workers are in short supply.

“The gap in federal funding for career and technical education is making it hard for sectors like construction, manufacturing, and shipping to find workers interested in those career tracks,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the Association’s Chief Executive Officer, adding “We are doing everything we can to recruit people into high-paying construction careers but exposing more students to construction skills will certainly help.”

[Erik]

The tumbleweeds might outnumber the people living in Nebraska.

And the number of tumbleweed ÷ the number of cattle head out numbers thr number of people west of Lincoln

[ita]

Nebraska closing gap in return to pre-pandemic payroll job count

Cindy Gonzalez
While Nebraska has yet to catch up to its pre-pandemic number of payroll jobs, the gap is closing, and the Husker state is on pace to become the 18th to make up that lost ground.

“Nebraska’s recovery churns along steadily,” said Michael Lucci, senior policy adviser at the Platte Institute. ”Nebraska is now only 7,400 jobs away from a full recovery of its pre-pandemic jobs count.”

In an analysis of new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lucci said about 1 million Nebraskans were employed in nonfarm payroll jobs before the pandemic hit. Initially, about 98,000 jobs were lost, a 9.5% plunge.

Nebraska gained 400 nonfarm payroll jobs in March, he said, and is 7,400 jobs short of bouncing back to that pre-pandemic point.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Like I said back in September, Omaha will be just fine..

And hopefully, so will the state of Nebraska…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Coyote]

National study predicts Nebraska’s future unemployment rate

Nebraska’s latest unemployment rate was 1.9% — which continues to be a record low for Nebraska, currently is the lowest of states in the country, and ties the record low for any state ever. A new study that looks at the future predicts that Nebraska in five years will have an even lower unemployment rate, 1.8%, that’s projected to clock in then as second lowest in the country. The research by Lensa, an online job search and recruitment site, looked at the unemployment figures of each state over the last decade to come up with trajectories and predictions for places most likely to have the highest number of people out of work in 2027.

Nebraska tied with Alabama for the second-lowest predicted unemployment rate among the states. The Lensa analysis said Alabama has seen the biggest average annual decline during the 10 years reviewed. It said Nebraska’s unemployment generally decreased, as well, but had a few upticks. “Historically unemployment in Nebraska has been low thanks to the high number of essential jobs in industries such as agriculture and a lower population creating less competition for jobs,” the study said.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Well, as the saying goes- Nebraska is the Good Life…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Big E]

We're tied with Alabama. I wouldn't go celebrate by bangin' yer sister just yet.

[Coyote]

Nebraska unemployment ticks up as separate report ranks Huskers in top 10 states for labor productivity

Nebraska’s unemployment rate has ticked up a bit to 2% but remains the second lowest in the country, according to preliminary and seasonally adjusted Department of Labor data released Friday. Meanwhile, a separate report from a national publication, focused on digital transformation, shows Nebraska among the top 10 states for improved labor productivity over the past decade. The analysis commissioned by digital-adoption.com, which was based on U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, ranked Nebraska No. 9 with a nearly 17% increase since 2012 in private nonfarm sector productivity.

During the 10-year study period, the researchers said that Nebraska’s labor compensation grew by nearly 44% and value-added output rose by 46%, from about $77 billion to nearly $112 billion. They said employment and hours worked in the state rose only slightly, by 3.6% and 1.6%, respectively, during that period.

Digital tech hubs top list

Nebraska was sandwiched between Utah and Oregon in the rankings that revealed Washington and California on top, followed by Kansas and Colorado. A spokesperson for the study said the two most-improved states are large digital tech hubs, and they likely were prepared for the remote working boom ushered in by the pandemic. In reviewing the Labor Department’s latest monthly data release, Nebraska Labor Commissioner John Albin pointed out notable growth in Nebraska’s manufacturing industry. The manufacturing sector added 2,733 jobs to its ranks, a nearly 3% growth since the 100,215 jobs reported a year ago.

“The manufacturing industry in Nebraska has been showing strong growth,” Albin said. “With employment at nearly 103,000, this is the largest employment number since January of 2003.” Overall in the state, more than 1 million Nebraskans have been employed since August, Albin’s office noted in a media release.

National unemployment down slightly

Other private industries with the most year-to-year growth in the state, according to department analysts, were professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and a grouping that includes trade, transportation and utilities. The counts of employed and unemployed persons in the labor force are based on a Census Bureau survey. Individuals who claim unemployment benefits as well as those who aren’t claiming them can be counted among the unemployed, depending on the way they answer the survey. Individuals who are not working and are not seeking work are not considered part of the labor force and therefore are not included in the unemployment rate calculation. Friday’s data release showed the state’s preliminary unemployment rate for July as slightly higher than the 1.9% for June, yet down from the 2.5% of a year ago. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July is reported to be 3.5%, down slightly from the month before and down from the 5.4% of a year earlier.

Unemployment rates*
*Figures for July, seasonally adjusted, preliminary data

Minnesota, 1.8
Nebraska, 2.0
Utah, 2.0
New Hampshire, 2.0
Vermont, 2.1
North Dakota, 2.3
South Dakota, 2.3
Kansas, 2.4
Iowa, 2.5
Missouri, 2.5

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

[ita]

This is old data, but Nebraska recovered prepandemic job count this past July.

NEBRASKA RECOVERS TO PRE-PANDEMIC JOBS COUNT

Nebraska’s economy achieved an important milestone in July, adding enough jobs to match its pre-pandemic jobs count from February 2020. The state’s economy now has 1,033,200 non-farm payroll jobs and the nation’s second-lowest unemployment rate at 2.0%.

The national economy also recovered to its pre-recession jobs level in July, marking an important step in national recovery. Missouri and Alabama joined Nebraska in completing their jobs recoveries in July, too, tying the three states for 16th in recovering to their pre-recession jobs levels.

The July national recovery divides states between those that have led the recovery and those that have lagged the recovery. For example, Nebraska is one of 18 states that achieved a jobs recovery before or on pace with the national average. States like Texas (+546,900), Florida (+357,900), and North Carolina (+168,300) currently exceed their pre-pandemic jobs count by the most. On the other hand, New York (-351,200) has the most jobs to regain in order to complete its recovery, and is likely more than a year away from achieving its recovery.

[ita]

Nebraska unemployment rate dips to three-way tie for lowest in nation

Cindy Gonzalez
Nebraska’s unemployment rate has dipped to 1.9%, tying with South Dakota and New Hampshire for lowest in the country.

The state’s May preliminary rate, released Friday, is a pinch lower than the 2% reported last month at this time and the 2.1% of a year ago.

Meanwhile, national unemployment went the other way, with the rate rising from 3.4% a month ago to the latest 3.7%.
...
He noted another Nebraska highlight: “The total nonfarm count of filled jobs is at a historical high at 1,044,702, surpassing the prior high count of filled jobs in November 2022 by 1,009.”
...
The state reported that private industries with the most annual growth, not seasonally adjusted, included private education and health services (up about 6,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up about 5,000 jobs), and mining and construction (up about 4,000 jobs).

[nativeomahan]

If I was a business looking to expand in Nebraska, or locate a new branch in Nebraska, these unemployment numbers would scare me off.

[Omaha Cowboy]

On the other hand, these numbers indicate Nebraska is a “Land of Opportunity”.. with a great work ethic..If you want to work, and find diversity of employment- Nebraska is the state to be and to be located in..

On both sides of the equation, Nebraska is an attractive place if one is looking for employment; and a business friendly state to locate a business in…

Ciao.. LiO…Peace

[nativeomahan]

I don’t know. If you think about it it just might say that people who are between jobs don’t want to move to or continue to live in Nebraska. We have experienced a long term “brain drain” for more years than we can count. Backward politics and a less than welcoming social environment plays a part in the brain drain, to be sure. Omaha is less backward than say, the smallest 90 counties, but like it or not many people who are not Nebraska residents equate Omaha with being just like the state as a whole.
When newly minted adults graduate high school and college they often have a golden opportunity to make life decisions, without the burdens of being a new parent or having a spouse who’s needs must be taken into consideration. So many of our young people choose to leave, and there are not enough non Nebraskans that choose to immigrate here to replace them all. That reduces the pool of would be job seekers, which factors in to the unemployment statistics.

[Omaha Cowboy]

This, to me, is just how you view it- a cup half full or cup half empty scenario..

There is no question the state of Nebraska, as a whole, suffers from “Brain Drain” the Cornhusker state is certainly not alone in fighting this phenomenon..

Omaha and brain drain has been overblown imo. Yes does it happen- sure it does. But growth and diversification of Job opportunities in the metro belie that belief to a significant degree. Then we ask- is Omaha a stagnant, stunted metropolitan area with little sign of growth? Does it perform or look like one? Hardly. In fact, I’d say it’s the exact opposite..

I’m not saying brain drain isn’t real- it is- especially outside of the Omaha-Lincoln corridor. We must as a state, figure that piece out. I think the major cities- Omaha in particular, are doing pretty well these days and I sense, will only get better as we move through this decade…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[legato9]

Went to Westroads a couple days ago. Zales had its gate pulled and a sign taped to it. “No staff. Please apply.”

Went to Kirkland this eve. It was closed. Sign posted that said they have shortened hours due to being short on staff.

This is bad for economic growth. Businesses can’t even stay open, let alone expand.

[legato9]

I don’t know. If you think about it it just might say that people who are between jobs don’t want to move to or continue to live in Nebraska. We have experienced a long term “brain drain” for more years than we can count. Backward politics and a less than welcoming social environment plays a part in the brain drain, to be sure. Omaha is less backward than say, the smallest 90 counties, but like it or not many people who are not Nebraska residents equate Omaha with being just like the state as a whole.
When newly minted adults graduate high school and college they often have a golden opportunity to make life decisions, without the burdens of being a new parent or having a spouse who’s needs must be taken into consideration. So many of our young people choose to leave, and there are not enough non Nebraskans that choose to immigrate here to replace them all. That reduces the pool of would be job seekers, which factors in to the unemployment statistics.

I’m lucky that I’ve lived around the country and travel abroad a lot. (Honestly, rural Nebraska feels more foreign to me than pretty much any country I’ve been to - and not in a good way.)

I would never, ever, in a billion years suggest that a brand new grad stay here. A case could be made for returning at some point down the road. But there’s just too much that the world has to offer that you can’t soak up here when you’re young. Really young people should see what Boston or Atlanta or LA (though I hate LA) or Miami or Austin have to offer. Or even better, Milan or Madrid.

This isn’t a young person’s state. It just isn’t. That’s okay. No place can be everything to everyone.

I’ve even realized recently - painfully - that I love Omaha…but I’m not in love with Omaha. And I won’t ever be. So my partner and I know that we’ll enjoy our days here…but they’re numbered. (It almost makes me misty-eyed to write that.)

[Omaha Cowboy]

Yep- cup half full or cup half empty scenarios here..

I’m glad many young people who I’ve met recently and got to know do like it here, see the value in staying, and seem to appreciate Omaha becoming the best version of itself it can be..they’re laying down roots here..

I’m old enough to remember being a 20 something living in Omaha in the 1980’s- when there was definitely a gravitational pull for being a 24 year old and “getting out” of Omaha. I did. I lived in (or spent significant time in) several different cities for a couple of years (including Dallas, Atlanta and Phoenix AZ)- but the entire time I was away, I missed it.. by the time I was 28, I was back home in Omaha for good..and I’m glad I decided to stay..but everyone is different..

Maybe because I’m old enough to have lived in Omaha when it was truly a stunted metropolis (nativeomahan and I remember those days ) and live here now when it’s becoming the city and metro I envisioned it to be when I was young, gives me a different perspective and perhaps a better appreciation for the developing Omaha of today..and I don’t want to miss what it’ll become in the next 5 or so years- it’s going to be great and definitely great to see with boots on the ground…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[nativeomahan]

I’m lucky that I’ve lived around the country and travel abroad a lot. (Honestly, rural Nebraska feels more foreign to me than pretty much any country I’ve been to - and not in a good way.)

I would never, ever, in a billion years suggest that a brand new grad stay here. A case could be made for returning at some point down the road. But there’s just too much that the world has to offer that you can’t soak up here when you’re young. Really young people should see what Boston or Atlanta or LA (though I hate LA) or Miami or Austin have to offer. Or even better, Milan or Madrid.

This isn’t a young person’s state. It just isn’t. That’s okay. No place can be everything to everyone.

I’ve even realized recently - painfully - that I love Omaha…but I’m not in love with Omaha. And I won’t ever be. So my partner and I know that we’ll enjoy our days here…but they’re numbered. (It almost makes me misty-eyed to write that.)

This is well stated. I wouldn’t come down quite as hard on Nebraska and say no young adult should decide to put down roots here. In many ways it has a combination of essential and even desirable attributes that would help a young person who chose to live here flourish: a relatively low cost of living; a relatively low crime rate; a low unemployment rate (with some professions literally begging for workers); generally good schools (if one chooses to have kids, or just cares about the neighbor kids not being drags on society); and at least in Omaha, a good assortment of arts and entertainment options. It’s also quite easy to hop on a plane and be to any coastal metropolis in 3 hours or less.
In short, it’s the “safe” choice to make.
What is missing are the opportunities to pursue many many specialized career fields, and the opportunity to live and work next to people from dozens of other nationalities and lifestyles. Whereas in Omaha (and to a lesser extent in rural parts of the state) you can be a big fish in a smallish pond, in a large city one can be a small fish in a great big sea. Some people just prefer to stay in their comfort zone. Omaha (and maybe the rest of the state) fits within their preferred lifestyle.
In looking at long term demographic patterns, the planet has more than doubled its total population in just a few decades, while huge chunks of the Midwestern US have not only failed to keep up with global demographic trends, but have basically stagnated in terms of growth (most Nebraska counties have had basically zero or negative population growth in the past 9 or 10 decades!). This stunning fact strongly suggests that large numbers of former residents of the Midwest have voted with their feet, and left for perceived greener pastures.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I wouldn’t come down quite as hard on Nebraska and say no young adult should decide to put down roots here. In many ways it has a combination of essential and even desirable attributes that would help a young person who chose to live here flourish: a relatively low cost of living; a relatively low crime rate; a low unemployment rate (with some professions literally begging for workers); generally good schools (if one chooses to have kids, or just cares about the neighbor kids not being drags on society); and at least in Omaha, a good assortment of arts and entertainment options. It’s also quite easy to hop on a plane and be to any coastal metropolis in 3 hours or less.

I agree with this..

I wish I had $1.00 for every person I’ve encountered in my life who either moved here from another city, or spent time here visiting, tell me how much they enjoy/enjoyed Omaha and the metro area- painting such a positive experience. Most of them almost always tell me that natives from here typically seem to minimize the area, apologize for it’s perceived shortcomings etc etc- which, of course, is the good ‘ol Omaha inferiority complex rearing it’s ugly head, (awe shucks lol).. Thankfully, this is washing away. There is still some of it (see the toxic Omaha Reddit page), but thankfully more Omahans- old and YOUNG have developed a layer of civic pride that really didn’t exist (at least to me) 25-30 years ago..

Is Omaha Shangri La? Of course not. I’d argue most places aren’t.. But there is growing diversity here- and I see this every day. There is diversity in jobs and opportunity. There are amenities being added. All of this points to the Omaha metro being an attractive place for folks of all ages to live and thrive..

I’m enjoying what I see …

Ciao..LiO…Peace