NEBRASKA WORKFORCE

TRENDSTRENDSOCTOBER 2020 ISSUE | NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Inside this issue

Postsecondary Graduates Working in Manufacturing

Sports & Recreation Occupations in Nebraska

Fast Facts: Halloween

2

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Contents

3 Openings & Expansions

4 Map Facts: Manufacturing Establishments by County

6 Fast Facts: Halloween

8 Economic Indicators

10 Postsecondary Graduates Working in Manufacturing

15 Sports & Recreation Occupations in Nebraska

Helpful LinksLabor Market Publications

Previous Issues

NEworks.nebraska.gov

Reader Feedback Survey

CreditsCommissionerJohn H. Albin

Research AnalystsAndrew BouwensKermit SpadeRachel Stevens

Research SupervisorBrandon Jones

Editors Rachel StevensGrace Johnson Scott Hunzeker

Graphic Designer Hillary Lee

Source: Nebraska Department of LaborOpenings and expansions listed are a sampling of activity reported for that month. Some activity may have occurred outside the month. If you have an opening or expansion to report, contact us at LMI_NE@nebraska.gov.

Business Category Business Name Location

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting Advance Services (Expansion) Alliance

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation Pioneer 3 Theater (Re-Opening) Nebraska City

Food Services The Feed Trough (Opening) West Point

Health Care & Social Assistance Bluffs Physical Therapy & HydroZen (Expansion) Scottsbluff

Manufacturing Columbus Hydraulics (Expansion) Columbus

Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services Alliance Animal Clinic (Expansion) Alliance

Wholesale & Retail Trade

Added Blessings (Opening)Charlotte and Emerson Boutique (Opening)

Outlaw Motorsports (Opening)Petersen Drug (Expansion)

NorfolkSidneySidney

Crawford

Openings & Expansions AugustKermit Spade, Research Analyst

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

OCTOBER 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

4

Map FactsKermit Spade, Research Analyst

Manufacturing Establishments by County

Manufacturing is the largest sector in Nebraska’s economy in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). In the first quarter of 2020, manufacturing contributed almost $13.6 billion dollars (12.0%) to the Nebraska economy. (1) Almost every county in Nebraska has at least one manufacturing establishment, and statewide the manufacturing industry employs more than 145,000 people. The map below shows a count of manufacturing establishments by county. The establishment data comes from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, produced by the Nebraska Department of Labor, for the first quarter of 2020. (2)

Cherry10 Holt

15

Custer11

Sioux0

Lincoln22

Sheridan8

Morrill7 Garden

1

Knox6

Keith12

Dawes2

Rock1

Brown5

Gage42

Hall73

Dundy5

Chase6

Buffalo57

Grant0

Clay10

Kimball9

York31

Frontier4

Otoe16

Dawson30

Cedar11

Platte72

Arthur1

Burt10

Perkins6

Cheyenne16

Hayes0

Blaine0

Loup0

Box Butte7

Cass24

Boone9Banner

0

Polk4

Butler9

Furnas6

Hooker0

Antelope7

Saline20

Valley8

Pierce8

Logan2

Thomas1

Dixon3

Harlan3

Adams62

Thayer10

Dodge59

Phelps7

Saunders20

McPherson1

Deuel0

Howard6

Cuming18

Seward15

Greeley4

Fillmore11

Hitchcock4

Garfield6

Franklin2

Keya Paha1

Webster1

Madison52

Wheeler1

Nuckolls2

Colfax4

Gosper2

Scotts Bluff41

Jefferson13

Wayne15

Sherman3

Red Willow8

Kearney11

Pawnee6

Richardson10

Johnson4

Douglas467

Boyd5

Lancaster261

Nance1

Merrick14

Hamilton14

Stanton6

Nemaha8

Thurston6

Sarpy104

Dakota35

Washington21

Manufacturning Establishments by County

01 - 1213 - 2425 - 5253 - 104105 - 467

Manufacturing establishments are scattered across Nebraska but have higher concentrations in the eastern third of the state and along the I-80 corridor. There are 129 manufacturing establishments that are not shown on the map because they are listed as statewide or have multiple locations throughout the state, two listed as out of state, and one foreign. Douglas County has the most establishments (467), followed by Lancaster (261), and Sarpy (104). Hall and Platte Counties round out the top five, at 73 and 72 establishments respectively. (2)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

OCTOBER 2020

Sources:1. Bureau of Economic Analysis. GDP and Personal Income. bea.gov. [Online] July 7, 2020. [Cited: August 28, 2020.] https://apps.bea.gov/itable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=70&step=1.

2. Nebraska Department of Labor. neworks.nebraska.gov. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. [Online] August 2020. https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/analyzer/results.aspx?enc=jaHZmiTuIl9VphauVQ7dVg==.

There are many different types of manufacturing establishments in Nebraska, from food manufacturing to machinery to apparel, just to name a few. The three industries with the most establishments in Nebraska were food manufacturing (369), fabricated metal product manufacturing (304), and printing and related support activities (207). Food manufacturing makes up the largest share of Nebraska’s manufacturing sector, both in terms of number of establishments and number of employees. Food manufacturing employed 63,498 people across the state in the first quarter of 2020. This accounts for 43.1% of all manufacturing employees across the state. Machinery manufacturing (12,688) and fabricated metal product manufacturing (12,277) each accounted for a little over 8% of total manufacturing employment statewide. The average weekly wage per employee at food manufacturing establishments was $836 per week. The highest-paying manufacturing industries were chemical manufacturing ($1,295 per week); computer and electronic product manufacturing ($1,290 per week); and electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing ($1,072 per week). The lowest-paying were beverage and tobacco product manufacturing ($430 per week) and textile product mills ($453 per week). (2)

Fast FactsRachel Stevens Research Analyst

Halloween

Estimated employment in sugar and confectionery product manufacturing industry establishments in Nebraska in 2019. (2)

446

Total acres of pumpkins harvested in Nebraska in 2017. (3)

1,015

771,444Estimated number of potential trick-or-treat stops—occupied housing units— in Nebraska in 2019. (1)

$71,260Median annual salary for morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors employed in Nebraska in the second quarter of 2020. (4)

Number of potential trick-or-treaters—children ages 5 to 14— in Nebraska in 2019. (1)

268,695

6

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

OCTOBER 2020

Sources:1. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2019 1-Year Estimates. Tables S0101 & DP04. [Online] data.census.gov.2. QWI Explorer Application. [Online] qwiexplorer.ces.census.gov/static/explore.html.3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. QuickStats: Nebraska. [Online] [Cited: October 9, 2020.] quickstats.nass.usda.gov.4. Nebraska Department of Labor. Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). [Online] Q2 2020. neworks.nebraska.gov.

* Nebraska does not employ any actual space-faring astronauts, so data on aerospace engineers was used as a stand-in. ** Data on clowns is from the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system category ‘performers, sports and related workers, all other,’ which includes clowns as well as other entertainment workers not classifiable within another specific occupation. *** Data on detectives was taken from the SOC category ‘private detectives and investigators,’ which is classified separately from police detectives and other official law enforcement agents.

Occupation Title Median Annual Wage (Q2 2020)

Est. Statewide Employment (2018)

Projected Employment Change,

2018-2028

Astronauts * $104,924 123 +15

Athletes & Sports Competitors $50,582 78 +7

Clergy $46,871 441 +30

Clowns ** Not Available 87 +2

Dancers $21,369 161 -3

Detectives *** $42,744 238 +26

Firefighters $54,616 989 +34

Maids & Housekeeping Cleaners $25,051 7,430 +390

Nurses $66,354 26,536 +2,950

Police Officers $61,117 3,035 +109

Data Source: Nebraska Department of Labor. Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) & Long-Term Occupational Projections. 2020. NEworks.nebraska.gov.

Occupations Popular as Halloween Costumes

Icons were modified from original illustrations by Freepik via Flaticon.com

8

Gas Prices Avg. Retail Price per Gallon

(Regular-Grade Unleaded Gasoline)

This figure represents the average price consumers paid at the pump for a gallon of regular-grade, unleaded gasoline during the specified timeframe. The main components affecting the retail price of gasoline are crude oil prices; costs and profits associated with refining, distribution, and market-ing; fluctuations in supply and demand; and federal, state, and local taxes.3

Data Sources: [Retrieved: September 2020.]NE- Nebraska Energy Office. Average Monthly Retail Motor Gasoline Prices in Nebraska. Regular Unleaded.http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/97.htm#regular_unleaded.U.S.- U.S. Energy Information Administration. U.S. Regular All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices.https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/PET_PRI_GND_A_EPMR_PTE_DPGAL_M.htm.

Avg. Weekly EarningsAll Private Employees

Not Seasonally Adjusted

Average weekly earnings represents the mean pay received by workers for services performed over the course of one week.2

Data Sources: [Retrieved: September 2020.]NE- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. State and Area Employment, Hours, & Earnings. Average Weekly Earnings of All Employees, In Dollars. Nebraska (Statewide): Total Private, Not Seasonally Adjusted. Series ID SMU31000000500000011. https://data.bls.gov/PDQWeb/sm.U.S.- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment, Hours, & Earnings from the Current Employment Statistics Survey (National). Average Weekly Earnings of All Employees: Total Private, Not Seasonally Adjusted. Series ID CES0500000011. https://data.bls.gov/PDQWeb/ce.

Initial Unemployment Claims

Monthly Avg. Number of Claims per Week

(Excludes CARES Act)

An initial claim is a request for determination of UI pro-gram eligibility filed by an unemployed individual following a separation from an employer. It can serve as an indica-tor of emerging labor market conditions in the area.1

Data Sources: [Retrieved: September 2020.]NE- U.S. Employment & Training Administration. Initial Claims in Nebraska (NEICLAIMS). Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NEICLAIMS.U.S.- U.S. Employment & Training Administration. Initial Claims (ICNSA). Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ICNSA.

$1,037.70United StatesCurrent 2020

$925.14NE 10-Year High(Aug. 2020)

$700.06NE 10-Year Low (Jun. 2012)

$925.14Nebraska

Current 2020

UP +6.8%

NE Vs. Last Year

UP +1.9%NE Vs.

Last Month

$1,200

$600

$775.99 NE 10-Year

Avg.

$3.93NE 10-Year High (May 2011)

$2.18United States Current 2020

$2.11 Nebraska

Current 2020

DOWN -16.3%

NE Vs. Last Year

DOWN -0.5%NE Vs.

Last Month

$0

$5.00

$2.82NE 10-Year

Avg.

$1.68NE 10-Year Low (Feb. 2016)

Economic Indicators: September Kermit Spade, Research Analyst

15,946 NE 10-Year High (Apr. 2020)

430NE 10-Year Low (Sept. 2019)

16,000

0

2,840Nebraska

Current 2020

UP +349.4%

NE Vs. Last Year

DOWN -46.8%

NE Vs. Last Month

UP +382.3%

U.S. Vs. Last Year

DOWN -6.1%U.S. Vs.

Last Month

822,055 - United States Current 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS 9

OCTOBER 2020

Labor Force Participation Rate

Seasonally Adjusted

The labor force is comprised of all persons age 16 and over in the civilian, noninstitu-tional population who are either employed or unemployed but available for work and actively seeking employment. It excludes people doing unpaid homemaking or volunteer work, retired people, and people who are not employed and not actively seeking work. The labor force participation rate measures the labor force as a percentage of the total civilian, noninstitutional population, age 16 and over.1

Data Sources: [Retrieved: September 2020.]NE- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor Force Participation Rate for Nebraska (LBSSA31). Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LBSSA3.U.S.- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate (CIVPART). Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CIVPART.

Housing Prices4-Quarter % ChangeSeasonally Adjusted

The housing price index (HPI) measures the movement of single-family house prices, based on purchases involving conventional mortgages purchased or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. “Four-quarter” change is relative to the same quarter one year earlier. HPI data are often considered useful for estimating housing affordability and projecting future changes in mortgage default rates.5

Data Source: [Retrieved: September 2020.]Federal Housing Finance Agency. Housing Price Index Datasets. Quarterly Data: Purchase-Only Indexes.https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Downloads/Pages/House-Price-Index-Datasets.aspx#qpo

Data Sources: [Retrieved: September 2020.]NE- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in Midwest(CUUR0200SA0). Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0200SA0#0.U.S.- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items(CPIAUCNS). Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCNS.

Consumer Price Index12-Month % Change

Not Seasonally Adjusted

The consumer price index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for goods and services. It is used to determine the real purchasing power of con-sumers’ dollars, and as a measure of inflation.6

DOWN -0.4%NE Vs.

Last Year

DOWN -0.9%

NE Vs. Last Month

69.1%NE 10-Year Low (Mar. 2017)

61.7%United States Current 2020

69.6%Nebraska

Current 2020

50%

80%

70.4%NE 10-Year

Avg.72.0%NE 10-Year High (Jun. 2012)

Economic Indicators: September Kermit Spade, Research Analyst

+3.9%Midwest 10-Year High (Sept. 2011)

-1.1%Midwest 10-Year Low (Apr. 2015)

+1.1%Midwest Region

Current 2020

All Urban Consumers: All Items Index 1982–1984 = 100

-2.5%

5.0%

+1.3%United States Current 2020

+1.5%Midwest Region 10-Year Avg.

+8.1%NE 10-Year High (Q4 2017)

+5.4%United States Current 2020

-3.3%NE 10-Year Low (Q4 2010)

+4.8%Nebraska

Current 2020

FHFA Purchase-Only Housing Price Index

-10%

10%

3.9%NE 10-Year Avg.

10

Postsecondary Graduates Working in ManufacturingKermit Spade, Research Analyst

The manufacturing sector is a very important part of Nebraska’s economy. As seen in the chart, manufacturing is the state’s largest industry sector by gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is a measure of the value of goods and services produced in a given time period. In the first quarter of 2020, manufacturing contributed almost $13.6 billion to the Nebraska economy. (1)

$13.57

$13.18

$12.88

$10.19

$10.05

$8.02

$7.11

$6.84

$5.77

$3.82

$3.73

$3.66

$3.62

$3.05

$2.69

$2.61

$1.09

$0.69

$0.13

$2 $4

Manufacturing

$0 $6 $8 $10 $12 $14 $16

Administrative & waste services

Real estate and rental and leasing

Finance and insurance

Health care and social assistance

Transportation and warehousing

Wholesale trade

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Retail trade

Professional, scientific, and technical services

Utilities

Information

Construction

Management of companies and enterprises

Accommodation and food services

Other services (except government and government enterprises)

Educational services

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Billions of Dollars

Nebraska Gross Domestic Product by Industry Sector

Chart Source: U.S. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 11

OCTOBER 2020

A well-trained workforce is essential to the continued success of Nebraska’s manufacturing sector. The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) partners with colleges and universities across the state to measure outcomes for postsecondary education graduates throughout the state. The colleges and universities participating in this effort are University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska Medicine, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Chadron State College, Peru State College, Wayne State College, Metropolitan Community College Area, Mid-Plains Community College, Northeast Community College, Western Nebraska Community College, Iowa Western Community College, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Central Community College, Interface Web School, JTL Truck Driver Training, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, and Nebraska Safety Center. This article considers students who completed a postsecondary credential during the 2016-2017 academic year (the most recent available data) and went on to work in the manufacturing sector in the first quarter of 2018. NDOL waits between two and four quarters to match employment outcomes to graduates in order to allow time for those graduates to find employment in their given field of study.

Among the postsecondary institutions included in this study, there were 18,621 graduates, 11,335 of whom were found to be working in Nebraska in first-quarter 2018. Of these, 578 were found to be working in the manufacturing sector. More than half of these graduates were white and non-Hispanic, and almost 70% were male.* More than half (55.8%) of recent post-secondary graduates working in manufacturing were between the ages of 18-24. About another quarter (26.3%) were between the ages of 25-34. As seen in the chart below , the average quarterly wages of graduates working in manufacturing steadily increased along with degree level. Most graduates working in the manufacturing sector had either a bachelor’s or associate degree. (2)

129

77

132

1

209

22 1

$9,906

$10,012

$11,252

$11,502

0

$17,259

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

0

50

100

150

200

250

Certificate ofless than

1-year

Certificate of1 but less than

2-years

AssociateDegree

Certificate of2 but less than

4-years

Bachelor'sDegree

Master'sDegree

Post-Master'sCertificate

Aver

age

Qua

rter

ly W

age

Num

ber o

f Gra

duat

es

Graduates Average Quarterly Wage

Number of Graduates and Average Quarterly Wage by Degree Level**

Chart Source: Nebraska Department of Labor. Nebraska Longitudinal Data System.

* The race and ethnicity of about a third of these graduates was either unknown or not reported by the postsecondary institution.

* *No wages are shown for certificates of two but less than four years or post-master’s degrees for confidentiality reasons.

Occupations within the manufacturing sector are varied. While manufacturing firms employ many production-type occupations, they also employ workers in an array of non-production occupations, such as truck drivers, managers, accountants, graphic designers, and human resource specialists, to name just a few. (3) The following charts show the top ten degree programs of graduates who went on to work in Nebraska’s manufacturing sector, as well as the top ten programs whose graduates earned the highest average quarterly wages. The most common degree program for graduates who went on to work in manufacturing was business administration and management, followed by welding technology and machine tool technology. (2) The highest-paying degree programs were agricultural economics ($19,636 per quarter), industrial electronics technology ($17,764 per quarter) and architectural engineering ($16,685 per quarter). (2) Many more degree programs also had graduates working in manufacturing, but are not shown here for confidentiality reasons because there were three or fewer graduates.

83

51

32

31

25

24

22

21

15

13

Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor

Electromechanical Technology/Electromechanical Engineering Technology

Business Administration and Management, General

Welding Technology/Welder

Machine Tool Technology/Machinist

Mechanical Engineering

Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General

Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Graduates Working in Nebraska Manufacturing Firms by Field of Study

Chart Source: Nebraska Department of Labor. Nebraska Longitudinal Data System.

12

TABLE OF CONTENTS 13

OCTOBER 2020

$17,764

$16,685

$16,513

$15,660

$15,287

$15,284

$15,137

$13,523

$13,286

Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Engineering

Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician

Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology

Quality Control Technology/Technician

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering, General

Electromechanical Technology/Electromechanical Engineering Technology

Mechanical Engineering

Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other

$19,636

Average Quarterly Wages for Graduates Working in Nebraska Manufacturing by Field of Study

Chart Source: Nebraska Department of Labor. Nebraska Longitudinal Data System.

The table shows the average quarterly wages, split out by field of study and degree level, for post-secondary graduates who earned more than $14,000 per quarter. Three of these nine program credentials could be earned in less than two years.

Field of Study Degree Graduates Average Quarterly Wages

Agricultural Economics Bachelor’s 4 $20,044

Business Administration & Management, General Master’s 10 $19,571

Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Under 1 Year 14 $16,342

Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Associate 8 $16,040

Chemical Engineering Bachelor’s 8 $15,352

Civil Engineering, General Bachelor’s 5 $15,137

Electromechanical Technology/ Electromechanical Engineering Technology Associate 13 $14,527

Computer & Information Sciences, General Bachelor’s 7 $14,367

Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s 29 $14,335

Average Quarterly Wages for Graduates Working in NE Manufacturing by Field of Study and Degree Level

14

The table shows the average quarterly wages earned by graduates from each institution, and how many graduates from that institution were found to be working in Nebraska’s manufacturing sector. Peru State College graduates earned the highest average quarterly wages ($15,600), followed by Mid-Plains Community College and Wayne State College. Central Community College had the most graduates working in manufacturing (176), followed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (145), and Metropolitan Community College (65). Western Nebraska Community College graduates had the lowest average quarterly wages during the selected time period, and JTL Truck Driver Training had the fewest graduates working in manufacturing. (2)

Sources:1. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Measuring the Economy: A Primer on GDP and the National Income and Product Accounts. bea.gov. [Online] December 2015. https://www.bea.gov/

sites/default/files/methodologies/nipa_primer.pdf.

2. Nebraska Department of Labor. Nebraska Longitudinal Data System. 2020.

3. Industry Staffing Patterns. NEworks. [Online] neworks.nebraska.gov.

InstitutionGraduates Working

in Nebraska

Average Quarterly

Wages

Peru State College 7 $15,600

Mid-Plains Community College 12 $14,066

Wayne State College 16 $13,668

Metropolitan Community College Area 65 $12,730

University of Nebraska-Lincoln 145 $12,493

University of Nebraska at Omaha 51 $10,834

Western Iowa Tech Community College 6 $10,793

JTL Truck Driver Training 4 $10,757

Northeast Community College 48 $10,693

Central Community College 176 $9,851

University of Nebraska at Kearney 12 $8,635

Iowa Western Community College 17 $8,372

Western Nebraska Community College 5 $7,950

Average Quarterly Wages for Graduates Working in NE Manufacturing by Post-Secondary Institution

The Final WordThe manufacturing industry sector in Nebraska employs a large and varied workforce. It is diverse in the occupations employed within the sector and the education requirements for those occupations. Considered together, manufacturing is Nebraska’s largest sector by GDP, generating over $13 billion of economic activity every quarter. Nebraska's postsecondary educational institutions will continue to provide employers with a supply of well-trained graduates, ensuring a vibrant manufacturing sector in the state for years to come.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 15

OCTOBER 2020

Autumn in Nebraska can be the perfect opportunity to get out and get active. Not only do sports and recreation activities benefit one’s overall health, but they are also important to the individuals who work in these industries, making their livings teaching, coaching, and otherwise motivating individuals to be active. Many more degree programs also had graduates working in manufacturing, but are not shown here for confidentiality reasons because there were three or fewer graduates.

Sports & Recreation Occupations in NebraskaAndrew Bouwens, Research Analyst

$34,785

$34,113

$36,650

$37,065

$42,259 $34,355

$38,308

$36,996

$36,583

$34,908

$24,145

$25,895

$26,064

$28,285

$-

$28,993

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

$45,000

2016 2017 2018 20192015

Coaches and Scouts Recreation WorkersFitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructor

Median Wages for Selected Sports and Recreation Occupations in NE, 2015 - 2019

Chart Source: Nebraska Department of Labor. Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.

Recreation WorkersThese are individuals who design and lead activities to help people stay active, improve their fitness, and have fun. Recreation workers are employed in a wide variety of industries, such as recreation centers, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, and summer camps. (1) As shown in the chart above, median wages for recreation workers in Nebraska have been steadily increasing over the past five years, up to a median annual wage of $28,993 in 2019. (2)

16

Fitness Trainers & Aerobics InstructorsThese workers lead, instruct, and motivate people to exercise and train in fitness-related activities. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors can be found working in places such as health clubs, fitness and recreation centers, gyms, and yoga studios. These occupations tend to not follow a standard workweek; hours can vary and often include weekends. (1) In Nebraska, the median annual wage for fitness trainers tends to hover around $36,000. (2)

Coaches & Scouts People working as coaches teach amateur and professional athletes the skills needed to excel in a particular sport or activity, while scouts travel and conduct research on athletes while recruiting them to a certain school or sports franchise. These are the only occupations discussed in this article where job applicants are often expected to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, although this is not necessarily required. In Nebraska, you can find coaches employed by K-12 schools across the state, colleges and universities, in sports clubs, and offering private instructions. (1) Compensation for coaches and scouts has been on the rise over the last five years in Nebraska, with wages reaching an annual median of $42,259 in 2019. This is higher than the national average of $34,840 per year, perhaps due to the prominence of athletics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. (2)

The Nebraska Department of Labor projects that from 2018 to 2028, statewide employment of coaches and scouts will rise by 6.6%. Recreation workers are expected to see a 6.7% increase during this ten-year period. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors have the highest projected growth of the occupations analyzed here, at 14.7% between 2018 and 2028. (3)

The Final WordSports and recreation workers enrich the lives of people of all ages, from young children attending summer camp to seniors living in nursing homes, helping to reenforce the benefits of exercise and keeping Nebraskans fit and healthy. In 2020 we have seen a drastic change in how workers perform their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Yoga and aerobics instructors are conducting classes via Zoom. Coaches are adapting to all the safety standards that come with the pandemic, recruiting athletes virtually. Regardless of changes brought about by the pandemic, these activities play an important role in the health of the state's economy, employing workers in a wide variety of occupations and industries.

Sources:1. Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. [Online] 2020. bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/recreation-workers.htm.

2. Nebraska Department of Labor. Occupational Profiles. [Online] 2020. NEworks.nebraska.gov.

3. Long-Term Occupational Projections, 2018-2028. [Online] 2020. NEworks.nebraska.gov.

Nebraska Department of LaborLabor Market Information

PHONE 800-876-1377EMAIL lmi_ne@nebraska.gov

Nebraska Workforce Trends is published by the Nebraska Department of Labor in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. TDD: 1.800.833.7352Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.

Labor market information is updated continuously. For the latest data, contact us at 800-876-1377 or email lmi_ne@nebraska.gov.

Economic Insight and Outlook contains a variety of statewide labor market information, including a demographic review, education, labor force data, employment by industry and occupation, and employment projections.

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