OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – An estimated 1,500 college graduates leave Omaha every year, prompting city officials to develop a comprehensive plan to retain young talent in the metro area.
The “We Make Omaha” public engagement effort, started by the city of Omaha, has created a 20-year plan aimed at growing the city’s population. A forum at Creighton University focused on strategies to keep young talent from leaving the state.
According to the Center for Public Affairs Research, half of Nebraska’s total brain drain comes from Omaha alone. The Omaha metro population hit 1 million in 2024, but the number of college graduates continues to decline.
Workforce development focus
Dr. Josie Gatti Schafer, director of the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said supporting the young workforce is the top priority…