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As of November Nebraska had the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded by a state. So why are so many businesses cutting back hours and having trouble finding employees? In our December issue we decided to take a closer look at the elements pushing people out of the labor market and what we can do to solve what one economist calls “the single most important issue” facing our state.

Nebraska’s Tight Labor Market

A striking worker outside Omaha’s Kellogg’s plant on Nov. 10. Photo by Chris Bowling.

Increasing Access and Keeping the Workers We Have

Fighting for a Living Wage

Nebraska Appleseed’s Campaigns Organizer Vic Klafter encourages community members to sign Raise the Wage Nebraska’s petition in the Old Market. To get a minimum-wage raise on the ballot, the petition aims to collect 130,000 signatures. Photo courtesy of Raise the Wage Nebraska.

Unions, Workers Rights and a Path Forward

A sign outside the Kellogg’s plant in Omaha as workers gathered around the picket line. Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021 by Chris Bowling.

Subscribe to The Reader Newsletter

Our awesome email newsletter briefing tells you everything you need to know about what’s going on in Omaha. Delivered to your inbox every day at 11:00am.

Become a Supporting Member

Subscribe to thereader.com and become a supporting member to keep locally owned news alive. We need to pay writers, so you can read even more. We won’t waste your time, our news will focus, as it always has, on the stories other media miss and a cultural community — from arts to foods to local independent business — that defines us. Please support your locally-owned news media by becoming a member today.

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