About the Nebraska WorkForce Index

The AIM Institute and Creighton University College of Business produce the Nebraska WorkForce Index (WFI) each quarter to reveal shifts in job availability versus labor availability in Nebraska.  The WFI combines the AIM Institute’s employer data with unemployment data from the state’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The index also reveals career field trends in the state.

Index Values

The first quarter of 2007 was a period of economic stability in Nebraska. Therefore, this time period was selected as the starting point for the Nebraska WFI – it was normalized to equal 1.0 – and used as a neutral point from which to measure each subsequent quarter. Using this period as the benchmark, an index is produced each quarter to compare labor availability with job postings in the state. In order to insure a representative sample, the same businesses are maintained in AIM’s database for the full time period. Index values greater than 1.0 indicate there are more job seekers than available jobs, and index values less than 1.0 suggest a labor shortage.

“We are pleased to be working with Creighton University to develop a community tool  that will help the government, private industry and educational sectors better understand and respond to labor trends,” says AIM president and CEO, Kandace Miller.  She adds, “As part of AIM’s mission to support community growth, we hope the Nebraska WorkForce Index will support the creation of successful workforce development strategies for our state, as well as help educators, business people and citizens understand the complexities of a dynamic labor market.”

Fourth Quarter - 2009

Third Quarter - 2009

Second Quarter - 2009