Bureau of Business Research
Date of this Version
2-6-2015
Document Type
Article
Abstract
1 Summary: Respondents to the January 2015 Survey of Nebraska Business had a modestly optimistic outlook for sales and maintained a very optimistic outlook for employment. January respondents were somewhat more likely to expect sales to rise (27%) than fall (24%) at their business over the next six months. Respondents were much more likely to plan to increase employment (21%) than to reduce it (6%). Within the state, optimism about sales and employment was especially strong in the Omaha area. Respondents from Southeast and West Nebraska were close to state averages. Respondents from Northeast and Central Nebraska held a neutral outlook, far below state averages. These latter two regions are most impacted by the decline in crop prices over the last year. When asked about the most important issue facing their business, customer demand was the top issue named by 29 percent of respondents. The quality and availability of labor was named as the top issue by 21 percent of respondents. This is the highest share recorded for this indicator in any survey month and reflects growing concern about labor availability. Concerns about competition from other businesses and improving business practices were named as the top concern by 13 percent of respondents.
Comments
Prepared by the UNL College of Business Administration, Bureau of Business Research