In the span of two weeks, the Omaha metro was hit with a one-two combo of dire reports about jobs and brain drain. The Aksarben Foundation and Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce separately agree that the region has a crisis of stalling jobs and wage growth when compared to other metros.
That’s pushing Nebraskans to leave, creating a gap in tax revenue worth hundreds of millions of dollars and setting up the state for long-term decline. To reverse the trend, “Greater Omaha must grow faster — faster in employment, faster in wages, faster in residents,” said Heath Mello, the Greater Omaha Chamber’s CEO.
Mike Cassling, chair of the Aksarben board of governors, sees Nebraska on the precipice. “If we don’t fix it … the Legislature (will be stuck) working with deficits — and you can’t cut your way to prosperity,” he said. “This is critical for the state to survive.”…