Community Action of Nebraska
2015 Statewide and Regional Needs Assessment
Employment, Barriers to Employment and Training Needs
Overview
Community Action of Nebraska launched the 2015 State and Regional Community Assessment Focus Survey on Employment, Barriers to Employment and Training Needs in June 2015, mailing 10,000 surveys to randomly selected households across the State of Nebraska. The 2015 survey yielded a 21% response rate.
The purpose of the survey was to increase our understanding of employment challenges facing Nebraskans. This survey was also completed in 2012 and this report includes comparisons between the two data collection periods. Regional Assessment Data is included for each of Nebraska's nine Community Action Agencies. Examples of CAA Client Success Stories related to employment services are featured within the report.
Findings are presented on a statewide basis related to:
- Employment Status
- Unemployment
- Seeking Employment
- Barriers to Employment or Improving Current Employment
- Employment Self-Assessment
- Gender
- Age/Location
- Education
- Education or Training Needs
- Training Opportunities
- Work Environment
- Workplace Characteristics
- Skills
- Pay and Job Satisfaction
- Employment Income Meeting Basic Needs
Select Findings
The Southeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership's website provided some highlights from the report including:
- Physical Health was identified as the top barrier to employment or improving current employment by 38% of respondents. This was an increase of 11% over 2012. Physical Health decreased as a barrier as the level of education increased (52% to 24% in 2015; 39% to 19% in 2012).
- In 2015 nearly half (48%) of all respondents reported working full-time. Of those, 11% reported working more than one job concurrently (up from 7% in 2012).
- Of those who were unemployed at the time of the survey who reported that they were looking for work, 51% had been seeking employment for more than six months.
- The largest proportion of respondents who indicated that they were currently seeking employment was in the 45-64 age range (33%).
- 38% of respondents who were working 40 hours per week or more reported that their income did not meet their basic needs.