Omaha among the worst cities at keeping citizens, attracting people from other major metros

[Uffda]

Omaha among the worst cities at keeping citizens, attracting people from other major metros

https://www.omaha.com/money/plus/omaha- ... 8fb64.html

Out of the 100 largest metro areas, Omaha ranks toward the bottom (83rd) in the rate of movement between metro areas

Omaha has a net average loss of 4,800 people annually who move out of Omaha for another metro area .........Des Moines gains a net of 6,600 people annually from other metro areas

[lonnie]

Out of the 100 largest metro areas, Omaha ranks toward the bottom (83rd) in the rate of movement between metro areas

So, if I read this correctly, any gains from the 101+ largest metros, or another country would not count ?

More OWH nonsense ?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Out of the 100 largest metro areas, Omaha ranks toward the bottom (83rd) in the rate of movement between metro areas

So, if I read this correctly, any gains from the 101+ largest metros, or another country would not count ?

More OWH nonsense ?

It is a very selective, misleading piece that was not well written and really provides little content or context..

The average person reading this story would think that the Omaha metro is hemorrhaging people and not growing at all.. This is indeed not the case. From 2010 through the latest 2017 CSA/MSA estimates, Omaha has gained nearly 70,000 in population and grown at a 7.54% clip. This is very healthy growth as Omaha is on pace to grow by between 10-12% by the end of this decade..

Omaha is growing and adding people..That it’s not coming from the top 100 metros..should have been pointed out in this article. Very bad form this time around by the W-H...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Out of the 100 largest metro areas, Omaha ranks toward the bottom (83rd) in the rate of movement between metro areas

So, if I read this correctly, any gains from the 101+ largest metros, or another country would not count ?

More OWH nonsense ?

I can't see the article yet because of paywall, but it's possible it's mostly nonsense even if all 300+ metros are included. First, in-state moves are often a large portion of moves into a metro of Omaha's size. Since Nebraska only has about two and a third other metros, a lot of migration comes from non-metros. Des Moines would score better in this department as Iowa has a much higher number of metros of decent size. Second, I'm curious about the demographics. Are we losing a lot of educated young people? Or is it more that there is a lot unskilled labor leaving at a faster rate than skilled labor is moving in? Third, I wonder how Offut factors into this. Military families move a lot and I wonder if the military has been continuing to cut the number of people stationed there. Thus Offut could be contributing to both movement of people and negative net migration.

At the end of the day, the metro population continues to go up and the urban parts continue to see positive change. Without knowing more information about the figures they're assessing, I'm not too worried.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Out of the 100 largest metro areas, Omaha ranks toward the bottom (83rd) in the rate of movement between metro areas

So, if I read this correctly, any gains from the 101+ largest metros, or another country would not count ?

More OWH nonsense ?

I can't see the article yet because of paywall, but it's possible it's mostly nonsense even if all 300+ metros are included. First, in-state moves are often a large portion of moves into a metro of Omaha's size. Since Nebraska only has about two and a third other metros, a lot of migration comes from non-metros. At the end of the day, the metro population continues to go up and the urban parts continue to see positive change. Without knowing more information about the figures they're assessing, I'm not too worried.

I’ve read the article.. Can Omaha aspire to be better at attracting more population from top 100 metros as opposed to losing them at a greater in/out clip? Of course.. But the fact remains, the Omaha CSA/MSA is growing at a more robust clip overall than Albuquerque NM, Tucson AZ, Tulsa OK, Grand Raplis MI, El Paso TX, Louisville KY, Albany and Rochester NY, Birmingham AL, Knoxville TN, Fresno CA, Memphis TN, even the ever popular Madison WI (just to name a few)..

Omaha is doing just fine growth wise.. You have nothing to worry about...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Dundeemaha]

I think the title of the article spells out it's point which is important.

Omaha is not competing well against major metros for talent acquisition.

For a number of reasons cities in our country are dividing in to a group of haves where the vast majority of economic gains are occurring and have nots with dropping median incomes and prospects.

An honest assessment of why other cities are successful at luring Omahans away, while Omaha lures it's residents from minor cities and rural areas could help Omaha make the investments necessary to join the haves.

[Cermak]

Yes, Omaha has some work to do in this area. All we can do is keep trying. And maybe one day that person from New York City will move here. Imagine that....

[nativeomahan]

I think the title of the article spells out it's point which is important.

Omaha is not competing well against major metros for talent acquisition.

For a number of reasons cities in our country are dividing in to a group of haves where the vast majority of economic gains are occurring and have nots with dropping median incomes and prospects.

An honest assessment of why other cities are successful at luring Omahans away, while Omaha lures it's residents from minor cities and rural areas could help Omaha make the investments necessary to join the haves.

Agreed.
Here is the key statistic:
“Omaha has a net average loss of 4,800 people annually who move out of Omaha for another metro area, compared with those moving in from a metro area.”

That is truly alarming. And apparently the Chamber of Commerce agrees. It is NOT a simple matter of counting how many coins are in your pocket at the end of the year versus the start of the year. You have to look at the value of each coin. Cities that are able to attract immigrants from other cities tend to attract more highly skilled, highly educated and highly paid residents, versus cities that mainly draw from “the sticks”. That has long been Omaha’s achiles heel. It’s called “brain drain.” It’s gone on for decades here, and sad to say it continues. It shows up in statistics like average per capita income, levels of college education, Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 employment. The people who earn more are willing to push for greater civic “quality of life” amenities. They fund museums, music venues, and they live in high end condo towers located in sustainable neighborhoods where people can walk to the grocery, or to Starbucks, or to 50 restaurants and bars. Omaha obviously has some of this, but not near what popular cities like Denver, Dallas, Austin, Minneapolis, Nashville, Atlanta, Phoenix and Chicago have. And that’s not even mentioning coastal cities, where people are really |expletive| to. [aside: why is “f l o c k i n g” seen as an expletive?]
Des Moines has seemingly unlocked to secret to success. It has one thing going for it that Omaha does not. It is the seat of state government. And it is located in a relatively more progressive state. I think that if Omaha were not located in such a tiny state it would help, but it is where it is. There are ways to address this issue, and the power brokers here are trying to do so. I wish them success.

[Cermak]

I have not been able to find this study while searching the Internet. Usually these types of study’s are public record and are relatively easy to find. Is this the World Heralds own study maybe ? I don’t know. Driving around Omaha yesterday it still seems like a thriving place with busy roads and new construction going on. Building permits are up in the city which is always a good sign. But apparently Omaha has some terrible problem with retaining and attracting people according to the World Herald article.

Omaha is never going to be this hot bed mecca attracting gobs of people from all over the world. We don’t have the weather or scenery to be another LA or Denver. But Omaha has other strengths which anyone who’s lived here a while knows what they are. We may never be able to solve this problem and Omaha will continue to bleed people. I’m not sure if this problem can ever be solved. Maybe it’s just the way Omaha is. In the meantime, we will still have busy roads and new construction and rapidly rising house prices while we bleed people.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Um...

What was the source on this data? Because the US Census says the Omaha metro gained 5,265 domestic and 14,383 international migrants for a net in-migrant total of 19,648 between 2010 and 2017.

https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tab ... l?src=bkmk

[buildomaha]

Considering the Unicameral just voted down an LGBT anti-discrimination bill, I can’t say I’m surprised that young, educated people aren’t zooming into Omaha, Nebraska. The city itself has an ordinance, but yet again the state is holding back the metro.

[Louie]

Considering the Unicameral just voted down an LGBT anti-discrimination bill, I can’t say I’m surprised that young, educated people aren’t zooming into Omaha, Nebraska. The city itself has an ordinance, but yet again the state is holding back the metro.

Complete agreement.

[Dundeemaha]

Um...

What was the source on this data? Because the US Census says the Omaha metro gained 5,265 domestic and 14,383 international migrants for a net in-migrant total of 19,648 between 2010 and 2017.

https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tab ... l?src=bkmk

I would really like to see the study referenced. But the article only includes migration between the top 100 metros.

So it is saying Omaha gains from non-metros and sub100-metros while losing people to the top 100.

[daveoma]

Considering the Unicameral just voted down an LGBT anti-discrimination bill, I can’t say I’m surprised that young, educated people aren’t zooming into Omaha, Nebraska. The city itself has an ordinance, but yet again the state is holding back the metro.

Complete agreement.

Yup, this is that I've been saying all along. Young educated people want complex diversity, openness, quality of life, and progressive politics. I think the effort now should be focused on pressuring state legislators in the unicameral to support progressive policies. Perhaps in swing districts, you can mobilize people to support candidates who are against corruption, support tax breaks for families instead of big corporations, and who support jobs in clean energy instead of dirty energy. Why isn't Nebraska using the agricultural sciences program at UNL to pioneer better urban farming? Why is there not a giant building that grows fresh vegetables year round while utilizing aquaculture? There's so much potential, but all I hear from the naysayers is the same tired right wing talking points and nothing changes.

[buildomaha]

Considering the Unicameral just voted down an LGBT anti-discrimination bill, I can’t say I’m surprised that young, educated people aren’t zooming into Omaha, Nebraska. The city itself has an ordinance, but yet again the state is holding back the metro.

Complete agreement.

Yup, this is that I've been saying all along. Young educated people want complex diversity, openness, quality of life, and progressive politics. I think the effort now should be focused on pressuring state legislators in the unicameral to support progressive policies. Perhaps in swing districts, you can mobilize people to support candidates who are against corruption, support tax breaks for families instead of big corporations, and who support jobs in clean energy instead of dirty energy. Why isn't Nebraska using the agricultural sciences program at UNL to pioneer better urban farming? Why is there not a giant building that grows fresh vegetables year round while utilizing aquaculture? There's so much potential, but all I hear from the naysayers is the same tired right wing talking points and nothing changes.

The Nebraska way of life is anti-change. Never have I been to a place where people refuse to at least attempt to keep up with the times in the way people here do.

[GrandpaaSmucker]

Perhaps in swing districts, you can mobilize people to support candidates who are against corruption
[/quote]


Political candidates that are not corrupt!.........Just stop right there ...........They don't exist.........They don't exist especially in little states like Nebraska where some of the richest men on this planet live.

[ScrattyB]

Yup, this is that I've been saying all along. Young educated people want complex diversity, openness, quality of life, and progressive politics.

What's your definition of "young"?

[daveoma]

Yup, this is that I've been saying all along. Young educated people want complex diversity, openness, quality of life, and progressive politics.

What's your definition of "young"?

Anyone under the age of 30-35.

[daveoma]

Perhaps in swing districts, you can mobilize people to support candidates who are against corruption

Political candidates that are not corrupt!.........Just stop right there ...........They don't exist.........They don't exist especially in little states like Nebraska where some of the richest men on this planet live.
[/quote]
Haha

Stay woke Grandpa

[ScrattyB]

Yup, this is that I've been saying all along. Young educated people want complex diversity, openness, quality of life, and progressive politics.

What's your definition of "young"?

Anyone under the age of 30-35.

Gotcha.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Um...

What was the source on this data? Because the US Census says the Omaha metro gained 5,265 domestic and 14,383 international migrants for a net in-migrant total of 19,648 between 2010 and 2017.

https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tab ... l?src=bkmk

They’re sourcing data from a 2016-2017 table from the US Census stating Omaha ranked 83rd out of the top 100 metros in attracting population in from the other top 100 metros.. Who knows what the ranking is now, or prior to 2016, lol..

Look, I’ve been sitting on this one for awhile and reading some of the responses. I have to shake my head sometimes..

First off, NO. The sky is not falling and yes, as I’ve stated previously in this thread, Omaha is growing at a nice clip..and at a faster rate than most of our peer metros. Yes- Omaha is growing by attracting immigrants and especially our Latino population..which has been exploding with growth the past 20 years. Yes- Omaha has done a very nice job growing a niche Silicon Prarie element and the Greater Omaha Chamber started an initiative last year- the goal is to attract an additional 10,000 tech workers to the metro over the next 10 years. Dee Baird, Senior VP of the Omaha Chamber was on the Grow Omaha radio show this morning and she stated the tech jobs Omaha has added, started at a $65,000 per year annual salary.. Which brings me to the next point- Over the last 2 years, Omaha has been able to attract numerous jobs back into the downtown core which also brings more construction and vibrancy/livability into our downtown core. This is a HUGE asset.. I understand people’s criticism of the $290 million GLM/Riverfront plan. But it’s all part of the process to help reverse this trend everyone here is so worried about..Omaha is going to look much different 5 years from now and I believe that’s a very good thing..

Lastly, this ability (or perceived lack thereof) of Omaha not attracting people from the other top 100 metros is not a new revelation. I’ve worked within the Omaha business community for nearly 35 years and it’s ALWAYS been a challenge. The difference is, now, Omaha has an aggressive plan teaming the Omaha Chamber with the business community and it’s working. We’ve seen evidence of it the past 24 months. Businesses moving in. Offices and HQ’s relocating to the downtown core.. and higher paying jobs. Omaha being on most lists as one of the top metros for millineals to locate is no mistake. Also, and Dee stated it nicely on Grow Omaha this morning, inclusion is a final key.. Making the Omaha metro an inviting place for EVERYONE regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or orientation.. Omaha is on the right track. And that’s why I’ve stated countless times on this forum that today, Omaha is an exciting place to be. Because the change from a middling stunted metropolis is happening before our eyes. As recently as one year ago, I was offered a very nice job opportunity with a hefty incentive package, to move to Dallas, TX. I strongly considered it. I have family that lives in Dallas and I’m very familiar with the area.. But in the end, I turned that offer down. Partly because I believe in Omaha and I believe in this change currently happening..

And I DON’T want to miss it.. Forget about Omaha being a “best kept secret”. The cat’s out of the bag...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Omaha Cowboy]

Perhaps in swing districts, you can mobilize people to support candidates who are against corruption

Political candidates that are not corrupt!.........Just stop right there ...........They don't exist.........They don't exist especially in little states like Nebraska where some of the richest men on this planet live.

Haha

Stay woke Grandpa
[/quote]

One last thing, amidst all the “gloom and doom” created by a poorly written W-H piece, at least this post was amusing, lol...

Ciao..LiO...Peace