Impacts of the Pandemic in Metropolitan Nebraska: 2021 Nebraska Metro Poll Results

Authors

Rebecca J. Vogt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Heather Akin, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bradley Lubben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
L. J. McElravy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Timothy L. Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Steven A. Schulz, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Date of this Version

2021

Document Type

Article

Citation

Nebraska Metro Poll, Research Report (September 2021) 21-1, 48 pages

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Also available at http://ruralpoll.unl.edu/pdf/21metropandemicimpacts.pdf

Abstract

Most metropolitan Nebraskans felt various impacts from the pandemic. While many metropolitan Nebraskans had someone in their household that quarantined because of possible coronavirus exposure or who contracted COVID-19, most have friends or family in their community that quarantined or contracted the virus. Many metropolitan Nebraskans also have friends or family both inside and outside their community who were hospitalized as a result of COVID-19.

Most metropolitan Nebraskans say the following were affected a fair amount or a great deal by the pandemic: their socialization with others, their life overall, their company/ workplace and their mental health. Conversely, most rural Nebraskans say their physical health and their financial health were either not at all impacted or not much. Some groups were more

likely to report having these aspects of their lives affected by the pandemic. Persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say the following items were affected at least a fair amount by the pandemic: their life overall, their mental health and their socialization with others.

Work patterns were also impacted. While 14 percent of employed metropolitan Nebraskans worked from home some of the time before the coronavirus outbreak, this increased to 53 percent when they took the survey in the spring and early summer. If they had a choice after the outbreak, almost six in ten would like to work from home at least some of the time.

Various economic impacts were also felt by metropolitan Nebraskans. Just over two in ten metropolitan Nebraskans say someone in their household had a loss of income during the past year, 19 percent had someone receive paid time off from their employer if a person in the household was infected with COVID-19, 17 percent said someone in the household had their hours reduced and 16 percent said someone in the household increased their income. More of these impacts were seen in their community. Almost four in ten metropolitan Nebraskans had friends or family in their community who had a loss of income, had their hours reduced or were temporarily laid off. Just over one-quarter had friends or family in their community that changed jobs.

Certain groups are more likely to have experienced these economic impacts. Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely than persons with higher incomes to say someone in their household experienced a loss of income in the past year. And, the youngest persons were the age group most likely to say someone in their household lost their job, changed jobs and increased their income.

Consumer habits were also impacted. Many metropolitan Nebraskans did the following items more often during the pandemic: used videoconferencing to visit with friends or relatives (67%), had food from a restaurant delivered or used curbside pickup (66%), shopped online (other than groceries) (48%), had groceries delivered or used curbside pickup (42%) and used curbside pickup at a store (other than groceries) (41%). And, most metropolitan Nebraskans report being likely to order food from a restaurant for delivery or curbside pickup, shop online (other than groceries), use self-service banking options and use videoconferencing to visit with friends or relatives going forward . Many also say it will be likely for them to order groceries by delivery or curbside pickup, use curbside pickup at a store (other than groceries) and to have a virtual visit with a doctor.

Not many metropolitan Nebraskans report significant limitations from their home Internet service on their ability to do various activities, such as work at home or participate in online K – 12 learning. Less than one in ten report being limited significantly or not being able to do each of the activities listed. However, persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to say their Internet service at least significantly limits their ability to engage in each of the activities listed.