The Omaha Chamber of Commerce hopes the survey project will promote “brain gain” | News

OMAHA — Seeking to replace “brain drain” with “brain gain,” the Greater Omaha Chamber and the University of Nebraska at Omaha have released a survey of young professionals living and working in the metro area.

Information gathered through the project will be used to develop strategies for businesses to retain and recruit new generations of workers, said Merrick Brtek, the chamber’s director of young professional and talent development programs.

“Employers are asking for more talent,” she said. “We would love to continue to grow Omaha, to be the epicenter of growth for business.”

While a previous U.N.-led survey before the pandemic sought input from young people who chose to move from the Omaha area, the new effort focuses on the views of those who stayed or moved here, Josie said Schafer of the UN Center for Public Affairs Research, the data expert working with the camera on the project.

The information is collected anonymously – and is expected to help identify areas to build or fix. Although focused on young professionals, the survey is open to all age groups and the chamber is interested in hearing a diversity of voices.

The questions range from workplace culture to remote or in-person preferences, taxes, work benefits, transportation, discrimination and inclusion experiences.

Schafer said the results should build on insights gleaned from the earlier survey of those who uprooted.

“In the group that’s left, we want to know, what are they thinking? So we can keep them here, understand more about the causes of brain drain and the causes of brain gain.”

In Nebraska, for those with four-year degrees, net out-migration from the state was persistent and negative, prompting the term “brain drain.”

Analysis by CPAR shows that employment opportunities and housing availability were the factors driving this immigration.

Chambers of Commerce across the state raised the red flag about the labor shortage across Nebraska communities, not just among the more educated professionals.

He also collaborates on the chamber’s CODE survey project and program, Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity and Equity, which focuses on creating positive outcomes for underrepresented populations.