TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

APRIL 2019

NEBRASKA WORKFORCE

TRENDSAPRIL 2019 ISSUE | NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Inside this issue

Image by WikiImages on Pixabay

Green Jobs in Nebraska Employment Wages amp Projected Growth

Map Facts Wind Energy Production

Fast Facts The Green Economy

2

Image by CreaPark on Pixabay

Contents

Helpful LinksLabor Market Publications

Previous Issues

NEworksnebraskagov

Reader Feedback Survey

Equal Opportunity EmployerProgram TDD 18008337352

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities

CreditsCommissionerJohn H Albin LMI Administrator Phil Baker

Editors Rachel StevensGrace Johnson Scott Hunzeker

Graphic Designer Hillary Lee

Feature Articles

11 Employment in Nebraskarsquos Greenest Industry Subsectors

16Green Jobs in NebraskaEmployment Wages amp Projected Growth

3 Openings amp Expansions

4 Map Facts Wind Energy Production

8 Fast Facts The Green Economy

22 Economic Indicators

Nebraska Workforce Trends is published by the Nebraska Department of Labor in cooperation with the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the US Department of Laborrsquos Employment and Training Administration The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the US Department of Labor The Department of Labor makes no guarantees warranties or assurances of any kind express or implied with respect to such information including any information on linked sites and including but not limited to accuracy of the information or its completeness timeliness usefulness adequacy continued availability or ownership This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it Internal use by an organization andor personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner

2

Image by CreaPark on Pixabay

Contents

Helpful LinksLabor Market Publications

Previous Issues

NEworksnebraskagov

Reader Feedback Survey

Equal Opportunity EmployerProgram TDD 18008337352

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities

CreditsCommissionerJohn H Albin LMI Administrator Phil Baker

Editors Rachel StevensGrace Johnson Scott Hunzeker

Graphic Designer Hillary Lee

Feature Articles

11 Employment in Nebraskarsquos Greenest Industry Subsectors

16Green Jobs in NebraskaEmployment Wages amp Projected Growth

3 Openings amp Expansions

4 Map Facts Wind Energy Production

8 Fast Facts The Green Economy

22 Economic Indicators

Nebraska Workforce Trends is published by the Nebraska Department of Labor in cooperation with the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the US Department of Laborrsquos Employment and Training Administration The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the US Department of Labor The Department of Labor makes no guarantees warranties or assurances of any kind express or implied with respect to such information including any information on linked sites and including but not limited to accuracy of the information or its completeness timeliness usefulness adequacy continued availability or ownership This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it Internal use by an organization andor personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner

Openings amp Expansions | FebruaryKermit Spade Research Analyst

Business Category Business Name Location

Food amp Entertainment

527 Brewhouse (Expansion)Runza

WayneChadron

Health amp FitnessPender Care Centre Apothecary (Expansion)Pender Care Centre Apothecary (Expansion)

EmersonWest Point

RetailSales Stitches by Kim Norfolk

Manufacturing Michael Foods (Expansion) Wakefield

Other RailCrew Xpress (Expansion) Alliance

SourceNebraska Department of LaborOpenings and expansions listed are a sampling of activity reported for that month Some activity may have occurred outside the month If you have an opening or expansion to report contact us at LMI_NEnebraskagov

Graphics by avian on 123rf

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

APRIL 2019

4

Percentage of Utility-Scale Energy Production Generated By Wind

Map FactsScott Ferguson Research Analyst Wind Energy

Production

The history of wind energy production in Nebraska is as old as the state itself Windmills were used by early settlers to draw water from wells for use on homesteads and quickly became vital tools in the construction of Americarsquos first Transcontinen-tal Railroad (1) An 1899 study conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cataloged and classified windmills through-out the state Seven classes and dozens of varieties were identified ranging from the ldquoBaby Jumbordquo to the ldquoGiant Battle-Axrdquo Most early windmills were handmade for under $10 but larger and more complex wind turbines costing $100 or more were also used to provide water to urban areas (2)

Percentage of Utility-Scale Energy Production Generated By Wind 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

APRIL 2019

Today wind energy production is a growing industry in Nebraska generating both elec-tricity and jobs Nebraska ranks 17 in the nation in number of wind turbines with 974 statewide and 14 for installed wind capac-ity which totaled 1972 megawatts (MW) as of the fourth quarter of 2018 (3)

According to a report by the Clean Energy Trust 534 Nebraskans were employed in the statersquos wind energy industry in 2017 (4) When counting jobs supported indirectly by Nebraskarsquos wind projects the American Wind Energy Association estimated that the number could be as many as 2000 jobs statewide (3) Between 2016 and 2026 the number of wind turbine service techni-cians employed in Nebraska is projected to increase by 908 making it the 1 fast-est-growing occupation in the state by total 10-year percent change (5)

Wind energy can be generated for private or local use referred to as ldquodistributedrdquo energy production or can be generated at ldquoutility-scalerdquo which is fed into the national energy transmission system (6) The map on page 4 shows the percentage of each statersquos utility-scale energy production that was gen-erated by wind in 2018 Nebraska comes in at 13 in the United States with 5178 of its 36809 total gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy production (141) generated by wind compared to 274952 of 4177810 GWh (66) nationwide (7)

Sources1 Nebraska History Museum Railroad Ecology History Nebraska [Online] [Cited March 12 2019] httpshistorynebraskagovpublicationsrailroad-ecology2 Barbour Erwin Hinckley Wells and Windmills in Nebraska [Online] 1899 [Cited March 12 2019] httpdigitalcommonsunleduusgspubs933 American Wind Energy Association Nebraska Fact Sheet [Online] January 2019 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwwaweaorgAweamediaResourcesStateFactSheets

Nebraskapdf4 Clean Energy Trust Clean Jobs Midwest Nebraska [Online] 2018 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwwcleanjobsmidwestcomstatenebraska5 The Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Skill and Demand from 2016-2026 Long-term Occupational Projections July 2018 [Online] July

2018 [Cited March 12 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=11656 Office of Energy Efficiency amp Renewable Energy WINDExchange Utility-Scale Wind Energy [Online] [Cited March 18 2019] httpswindexchangeenergygovmarkets

utility-scale7 US Energy Information Administration Electric Power Monthly [Online] 2019 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwweiagovelectricitymonthly

Image by Lukas Bieri from Pixabay

6

January 2019 County Rates

Employment Data | January

NEBRASKAJanuary Non-farm Total Employment 1009954Manufacturing 98837

Nebraska (smooth seasonally adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 30Panhandle 32Sandhills 29Southeast 31

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) January Unemployment Rate 31January Total Non-Farm 498813Manufacturing 33231

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 45January Total Non-Farm 42778Change (OTM) -394 (-09)Change (OTY) NA

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 27January Total Non-Farm 188534Manufacturing 13319

Sources1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

Over-the-month and over-the-year industry comparisons are not available for January due to the annual benchmarking revision process

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

APRIL 2019

February 2019 County Rates

NEBRASKAFebruary Non-farm Total Employment 1010893Manufacturing 98679

Nebraska (smooth Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 31Panhandle 33Sandhills 29Southeast 32

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) February Unemployment Rate 32February Total Non-Farm 491627Manufacturing 33351

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 934 (12)Mining amp Construction 446 (16)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Mining amp Construction 2394 (94)Leisure amp Hospitality 1468 (31)

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 33February Total Non-Farm 41756Change (OTM) 74 (02)Change (OTY) -85 (-02)

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 27February Total Non-Farm 189758Manufacturing 13527

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Leisure amp Hospitality 270 (15)Professional amp Business Services 186 (10)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 1339 (46)Trade Transportation amp Utilities 396 (12)

Employment Data | February

Sources 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

8

Fast FactsRachel Stevens Research Analyst

The Green Economy

22392The number of green goods and services (GGS) jobs in Nebraska in 2011 according to the most current data on the subject produced in 2013 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics GGS jobs are those that ldquoprimarily produce goods and provide services that benefit the environ-ment or conserve natural resourcesrdquo These GGS jobs accounted for 25 of overall employment in Nebraska and 42 of total employ-ment nationwide (1)

2311263 tonsThe total amount of waste collected in Nebraskarsquos municipal landfills in 2015 (2)

NE Employment in Green Goods amp Services Jobs by Industry Sector 2011

10xThe number of jobs created on average by recycling reuse amp remanufacturing compared to traditional methods of waste disposal (4)

757325The estimated number of jobs supported by recycling activities nationwide as of 2007 according to a 2016 EPA analysis This is approximately 05 of all jobs in the US economy and accounts for about 06 of all wages paid (5)

90 daysThe approximate time it takes for a recycled alumi-num can to make it back on to a store shelf as a new product (6)

157The number of jobs created by every 1000 tons of materials recycled according to the EPArsquos 2016 Recycling Economic Information Report This also translates to $76030 in wages and $14101 in tax revenues (5)

Chart Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Goods and Services (March 19 2013)Data for industry sectors not depicted did not meet BLS disclosure standards

4

Percentage of Utility-Scale Energy Production Generated By Wind

Map FactsScott Ferguson Research Analyst Wind Energy

Production

The history of wind energy production in Nebraska is as old as the state itself Windmills were used by early settlers to draw water from wells for use on homesteads and quickly became vital tools in the construction of Americarsquos first Transcontinen-tal Railroad (1) An 1899 study conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cataloged and classified windmills through-out the state Seven classes and dozens of varieties were identified ranging from the ldquoBaby Jumbordquo to the ldquoGiant Battle-Axrdquo Most early windmills were handmade for under $10 but larger and more complex wind turbines costing $100 or more were also used to provide water to urban areas (2)

Percentage of Utility-Scale Energy Production Generated By Wind 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

APRIL 2019

Today wind energy production is a growing industry in Nebraska generating both elec-tricity and jobs Nebraska ranks 17 in the nation in number of wind turbines with 974 statewide and 14 for installed wind capac-ity which totaled 1972 megawatts (MW) as of the fourth quarter of 2018 (3)

According to a report by the Clean Energy Trust 534 Nebraskans were employed in the statersquos wind energy industry in 2017 (4) When counting jobs supported indirectly by Nebraskarsquos wind projects the American Wind Energy Association estimated that the number could be as many as 2000 jobs statewide (3) Between 2016 and 2026 the number of wind turbine service techni-cians employed in Nebraska is projected to increase by 908 making it the 1 fast-est-growing occupation in the state by total 10-year percent change (5)

Wind energy can be generated for private or local use referred to as ldquodistributedrdquo energy production or can be generated at ldquoutility-scalerdquo which is fed into the national energy transmission system (6) The map on page 4 shows the percentage of each statersquos utility-scale energy production that was gen-erated by wind in 2018 Nebraska comes in at 13 in the United States with 5178 of its 36809 total gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy production (141) generated by wind compared to 274952 of 4177810 GWh (66) nationwide (7)

Sources1 Nebraska History Museum Railroad Ecology History Nebraska [Online] [Cited March 12 2019] httpshistorynebraskagovpublicationsrailroad-ecology2 Barbour Erwin Hinckley Wells and Windmills in Nebraska [Online] 1899 [Cited March 12 2019] httpdigitalcommonsunleduusgspubs933 American Wind Energy Association Nebraska Fact Sheet [Online] January 2019 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwwaweaorgAweamediaResourcesStateFactSheets

Nebraskapdf4 Clean Energy Trust Clean Jobs Midwest Nebraska [Online] 2018 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwwcleanjobsmidwestcomstatenebraska5 The Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Skill and Demand from 2016-2026 Long-term Occupational Projections July 2018 [Online] July

2018 [Cited March 12 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=11656 Office of Energy Efficiency amp Renewable Energy WINDExchange Utility-Scale Wind Energy [Online] [Cited March 18 2019] httpswindexchangeenergygovmarkets

utility-scale7 US Energy Information Administration Electric Power Monthly [Online] 2019 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwweiagovelectricitymonthly

Image by Lukas Bieri from Pixabay

6

January 2019 County Rates

Employment Data | January

NEBRASKAJanuary Non-farm Total Employment 1009954Manufacturing 98837

Nebraska (smooth seasonally adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 30Panhandle 32Sandhills 29Southeast 31

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) January Unemployment Rate 31January Total Non-Farm 498813Manufacturing 33231

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 45January Total Non-Farm 42778Change (OTM) -394 (-09)Change (OTY) NA

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 27January Total Non-Farm 188534Manufacturing 13319

Sources1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

Over-the-month and over-the-year industry comparisons are not available for January due to the annual benchmarking revision process

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

APRIL 2019

February 2019 County Rates

NEBRASKAFebruary Non-farm Total Employment 1010893Manufacturing 98679

Nebraska (smooth Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 31Panhandle 33Sandhills 29Southeast 32

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) February Unemployment Rate 32February Total Non-Farm 491627Manufacturing 33351

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 934 (12)Mining amp Construction 446 (16)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Mining amp Construction 2394 (94)Leisure amp Hospitality 1468 (31)

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 33February Total Non-Farm 41756Change (OTM) 74 (02)Change (OTY) -85 (-02)

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 27February Total Non-Farm 189758Manufacturing 13527

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Leisure amp Hospitality 270 (15)Professional amp Business Services 186 (10)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 1339 (46)Trade Transportation amp Utilities 396 (12)

Employment Data | February

Sources 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

8

Fast FactsRachel Stevens Research Analyst

The Green Economy

22392The number of green goods and services (GGS) jobs in Nebraska in 2011 according to the most current data on the subject produced in 2013 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics GGS jobs are those that ldquoprimarily produce goods and provide services that benefit the environ-ment or conserve natural resourcesrdquo These GGS jobs accounted for 25 of overall employment in Nebraska and 42 of total employ-ment nationwide (1)

2311263 tonsThe total amount of waste collected in Nebraskarsquos municipal landfills in 2015 (2)

NE Employment in Green Goods amp Services Jobs by Industry Sector 2011

10xThe number of jobs created on average by recycling reuse amp remanufacturing compared to traditional methods of waste disposal (4)

757325The estimated number of jobs supported by recycling activities nationwide as of 2007 according to a 2016 EPA analysis This is approximately 05 of all jobs in the US economy and accounts for about 06 of all wages paid (5)

90 daysThe approximate time it takes for a recycled alumi-num can to make it back on to a store shelf as a new product (6)

157The number of jobs created by every 1000 tons of materials recycled according to the EPArsquos 2016 Recycling Economic Information Report This also translates to $76030 in wages and $14101 in tax revenues (5)

Chart Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Goods and Services (March 19 2013)Data for industry sectors not depicted did not meet BLS disclosure standards

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

APRIL 2019

Today wind energy production is a growing industry in Nebraska generating both elec-tricity and jobs Nebraska ranks 17 in the nation in number of wind turbines with 974 statewide and 14 for installed wind capac-ity which totaled 1972 megawatts (MW) as of the fourth quarter of 2018 (3)

According to a report by the Clean Energy Trust 534 Nebraskans were employed in the statersquos wind energy industry in 2017 (4) When counting jobs supported indirectly by Nebraskarsquos wind projects the American Wind Energy Association estimated that the number could be as many as 2000 jobs statewide (3) Between 2016 and 2026 the number of wind turbine service techni-cians employed in Nebraska is projected to increase by 908 making it the 1 fast-est-growing occupation in the state by total 10-year percent change (5)

Wind energy can be generated for private or local use referred to as ldquodistributedrdquo energy production or can be generated at ldquoutility-scalerdquo which is fed into the national energy transmission system (6) The map on page 4 shows the percentage of each statersquos utility-scale energy production that was gen-erated by wind in 2018 Nebraska comes in at 13 in the United States with 5178 of its 36809 total gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy production (141) generated by wind compared to 274952 of 4177810 GWh (66) nationwide (7)

Sources1 Nebraska History Museum Railroad Ecology History Nebraska [Online] [Cited March 12 2019] httpshistorynebraskagovpublicationsrailroad-ecology2 Barbour Erwin Hinckley Wells and Windmills in Nebraska [Online] 1899 [Cited March 12 2019] httpdigitalcommonsunleduusgspubs933 American Wind Energy Association Nebraska Fact Sheet [Online] January 2019 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwwaweaorgAweamediaResourcesStateFactSheets

Nebraskapdf4 Clean Energy Trust Clean Jobs Midwest Nebraska [Online] 2018 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwwcleanjobsmidwestcomstatenebraska5 The Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Skill and Demand from 2016-2026 Long-term Occupational Projections July 2018 [Online] July

2018 [Cited March 12 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=11656 Office of Energy Efficiency amp Renewable Energy WINDExchange Utility-Scale Wind Energy [Online] [Cited March 18 2019] httpswindexchangeenergygovmarkets

utility-scale7 US Energy Information Administration Electric Power Monthly [Online] 2019 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwweiagovelectricitymonthly

Image by Lukas Bieri from Pixabay

6

January 2019 County Rates

Employment Data | January

NEBRASKAJanuary Non-farm Total Employment 1009954Manufacturing 98837

Nebraska (smooth seasonally adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 30Panhandle 32Sandhills 29Southeast 31

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) January Unemployment Rate 31January Total Non-Farm 498813Manufacturing 33231

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 45January Total Non-Farm 42778Change (OTM) -394 (-09)Change (OTY) NA

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 27January Total Non-Farm 188534Manufacturing 13319

Sources1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

Over-the-month and over-the-year industry comparisons are not available for January due to the annual benchmarking revision process

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

APRIL 2019

February 2019 County Rates

NEBRASKAFebruary Non-farm Total Employment 1010893Manufacturing 98679

Nebraska (smooth Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 31Panhandle 33Sandhills 29Southeast 32

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) February Unemployment Rate 32February Total Non-Farm 491627Manufacturing 33351

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 934 (12)Mining amp Construction 446 (16)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Mining amp Construction 2394 (94)Leisure amp Hospitality 1468 (31)

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 33February Total Non-Farm 41756Change (OTM) 74 (02)Change (OTY) -85 (-02)

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 27February Total Non-Farm 189758Manufacturing 13527

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Leisure amp Hospitality 270 (15)Professional amp Business Services 186 (10)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 1339 (46)Trade Transportation amp Utilities 396 (12)

Employment Data | February

Sources 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

8

Fast FactsRachel Stevens Research Analyst

The Green Economy

22392The number of green goods and services (GGS) jobs in Nebraska in 2011 according to the most current data on the subject produced in 2013 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics GGS jobs are those that ldquoprimarily produce goods and provide services that benefit the environ-ment or conserve natural resourcesrdquo These GGS jobs accounted for 25 of overall employment in Nebraska and 42 of total employ-ment nationwide (1)

2311263 tonsThe total amount of waste collected in Nebraskarsquos municipal landfills in 2015 (2)

NE Employment in Green Goods amp Services Jobs by Industry Sector 2011

10xThe number of jobs created on average by recycling reuse amp remanufacturing compared to traditional methods of waste disposal (4)

757325The estimated number of jobs supported by recycling activities nationwide as of 2007 according to a 2016 EPA analysis This is approximately 05 of all jobs in the US economy and accounts for about 06 of all wages paid (5)

90 daysThe approximate time it takes for a recycled alumi-num can to make it back on to a store shelf as a new product (6)

157The number of jobs created by every 1000 tons of materials recycled according to the EPArsquos 2016 Recycling Economic Information Report This also translates to $76030 in wages and $14101 in tax revenues (5)

Chart Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Goods and Services (March 19 2013)Data for industry sectors not depicted did not meet BLS disclosure standards

6

January 2019 County Rates

Employment Data | January

NEBRASKAJanuary Non-farm Total Employment 1009954Manufacturing 98837

Nebraska (smooth seasonally adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 30Panhandle 32Sandhills 29Southeast 31

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) January Unemployment Rate 31January Total Non-Farm 498813Manufacturing 33231

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 45January Total Non-Farm 42778Change (OTM) -394 (-09)Change (OTY) NA

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)January Unemployment Rate 27January Total Non-Farm 188534Manufacturing 13319

Sources1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

Over-the-month and over-the-year industry comparisons are not available for January due to the annual benchmarking revision process

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

APRIL 2019

February 2019 County Rates

NEBRASKAFebruary Non-farm Total Employment 1010893Manufacturing 98679

Nebraska (smooth Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 31Panhandle 33Sandhills 29Southeast 32

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) February Unemployment Rate 32February Total Non-Farm 491627Manufacturing 33351

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 934 (12)Mining amp Construction 446 (16)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Mining amp Construction 2394 (94)Leisure amp Hospitality 1468 (31)

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 33February Total Non-Farm 41756Change (OTM) 74 (02)Change (OTY) -85 (-02)

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 27February Total Non-Farm 189758Manufacturing 13527

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Leisure amp Hospitality 270 (15)Professional amp Business Services 186 (10)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 1339 (46)Trade Transportation amp Utilities 396 (12)

Employment Data | February

Sources 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

8

Fast FactsRachel Stevens Research Analyst

The Green Economy

22392The number of green goods and services (GGS) jobs in Nebraska in 2011 according to the most current data on the subject produced in 2013 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics GGS jobs are those that ldquoprimarily produce goods and provide services that benefit the environ-ment or conserve natural resourcesrdquo These GGS jobs accounted for 25 of overall employment in Nebraska and 42 of total employ-ment nationwide (1)

2311263 tonsThe total amount of waste collected in Nebraskarsquos municipal landfills in 2015 (2)

NE Employment in Green Goods amp Services Jobs by Industry Sector 2011

10xThe number of jobs created on average by recycling reuse amp remanufacturing compared to traditional methods of waste disposal (4)

757325The estimated number of jobs supported by recycling activities nationwide as of 2007 according to a 2016 EPA analysis This is approximately 05 of all jobs in the US economy and accounts for about 06 of all wages paid (5)

90 daysThe approximate time it takes for a recycled alumi-num can to make it back on to a store shelf as a new product (6)

157The number of jobs created by every 1000 tons of materials recycled according to the EPArsquos 2016 Recycling Economic Information Report This also translates to $76030 in wages and $14101 in tax revenues (5)

Chart Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Goods and Services (March 19 2013)Data for industry sectors not depicted did not meet BLS disclosure standards

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

APRIL 2019

February 2019 County Rates

NEBRASKAFebruary Non-farm Total Employment 1010893Manufacturing 98679

Nebraska (smooth Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 28Change (OTM) 00 Change (OTY) -01

Economic Region (not seasonally adjusted)Central 28Mid Plains 30Northeast 31Panhandle 33Sandhills 29Southeast 32

OMAHA MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted) February Unemployment Rate 32February Total Non-Farm 491627Manufacturing 33351

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 934 (12)Mining amp Construction 446 (16)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Mining amp Construction 2394 (94)Leisure amp Hospitality 1468 (31)

GRAND ISLAND (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 33February Total Non-Farm 41756Change (OTM) 74 (02)Change (OTY) -85 (-02)

LINCOLN MSA (Not Seasonally Adjusted)February Unemployment Rate 27February Total Non-Farm 189758Manufacturing 13527

Largest OTM Increase (Private)Leisure amp Hospitality 270 (15)Professional amp Business Services 186 (10)

Largest OTY Increase (Private)Education amp Health Services 1339 (46)Trade Transportation amp Utilities 396 (12)

Employment Data | February

Sources 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program2 Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

8

Fast FactsRachel Stevens Research Analyst

The Green Economy

22392The number of green goods and services (GGS) jobs in Nebraska in 2011 according to the most current data on the subject produced in 2013 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics GGS jobs are those that ldquoprimarily produce goods and provide services that benefit the environ-ment or conserve natural resourcesrdquo These GGS jobs accounted for 25 of overall employment in Nebraska and 42 of total employ-ment nationwide (1)

2311263 tonsThe total amount of waste collected in Nebraskarsquos municipal landfills in 2015 (2)

NE Employment in Green Goods amp Services Jobs by Industry Sector 2011

10xThe number of jobs created on average by recycling reuse amp remanufacturing compared to traditional methods of waste disposal (4)

757325The estimated number of jobs supported by recycling activities nationwide as of 2007 according to a 2016 EPA analysis This is approximately 05 of all jobs in the US economy and accounts for about 06 of all wages paid (5)

90 daysThe approximate time it takes for a recycled alumi-num can to make it back on to a store shelf as a new product (6)

157The number of jobs created by every 1000 tons of materials recycled according to the EPArsquos 2016 Recycling Economic Information Report This also translates to $76030 in wages and $14101 in tax revenues (5)

Chart Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Goods and Services (March 19 2013)Data for industry sectors not depicted did not meet BLS disclosure standards

8

Fast FactsRachel Stevens Research Analyst

The Green Economy

22392The number of green goods and services (GGS) jobs in Nebraska in 2011 according to the most current data on the subject produced in 2013 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics GGS jobs are those that ldquoprimarily produce goods and provide services that benefit the environ-ment or conserve natural resourcesrdquo These GGS jobs accounted for 25 of overall employment in Nebraska and 42 of total employ-ment nationwide (1)

2311263 tonsThe total amount of waste collected in Nebraskarsquos municipal landfills in 2015 (2)

NE Employment in Green Goods amp Services Jobs by Industry Sector 2011

10xThe number of jobs created on average by recycling reuse amp remanufacturing compared to traditional methods of waste disposal (4)

757325The estimated number of jobs supported by recycling activities nationwide as of 2007 according to a 2016 EPA analysis This is approximately 05 of all jobs in the US economy and accounts for about 06 of all wages paid (5)

90 daysThe approximate time it takes for a recycled alumi-num can to make it back on to a store shelf as a new product (6)

157The number of jobs created by every 1000 tons of materials recycled according to the EPArsquos 2016 Recycling Economic Information Report This also translates to $76030 in wages and $14101 in tax revenues (5)

Chart Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Goods and Services (March 19 2013)Data for industry sectors not depicted did not meet BLS disclosure standards

TABLE OF CONTENTS 9

APRIL 2019

Image by Maria Godfrida from Pixabay

Image by skeeze from PixabayImage by sspiehs3 from Pixabay

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

36Nebraskarsquos 2016 ranking out of the 50 states and Washington DC in terms of total carbon dioxide emis-sions Nebraska was responsible for less than 1 of all US carbon dioxide emissions that year (7)

186The percentage of Nebraskarsquos total 2016 energy con-sumption that was supplied by renewable sources of energy (7)

11Nebraskarsquos rank out of the 50 states and Wash-ington DC for highest percentage of total energy consumption provided by renewable sources (7)

140Nebraskarsquos share of total US corn-based ethanol pro-duction in 2017 Nebraska ranked second in the nation in ethanol production capacity just after Iowa (7)

440The percentage of Nebraskarsquos total energy consump-tion that went to fueling the statersquos industrial activities (manufacturing construction mining forestry and agriculture) in 2016 (8)

10

18436The estimated number of clean energy jobs in Nebraska in 2017 This figure includes jobs providing goods and services related to renewable energy alternative fuels energy efficiency improvement and power grid and transportation advancements (9)

NE Employment in Clean Energy Jobs 2017

Chart Source Clean Energy Trust Clean Jobs Midwest Nebraska (2018) Advanced Transportation includes jobs related to developing andor building hybrid electric andor alternative fuel vehicles Advanced Grid includes jobs related to energy storage advancements ldquosmart gridrdquo and other grid modernization efforts Clean Fuels includes jobs related to non-corn ethanol non-woody biomass landfill gas and other advanced biofuels

Sources1 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Green Goods and Services Occupations Employment in Green Goods and Services - 2011 [Online] March 19 2013 [Cited February 28 2019]

httpswwwblsgovnewsreleasepdfggqcewpdf2 Nebraska Sierra Club Prepared by Cavanaugh Law Firm PC LLO Omaha Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Management Study [Online] March 13 2017 [Cited February 26 2019]

httpswwwsierracluborgsiteswwwsierracluborgfilessce-authorsu2978Sierra20Club27s20Omaha20Metro20Solid20Waste20Management20Study2020March202017pdf

3 Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality State of Nebraska Waste Characterization Study [Online] June 1 2009 [Cited February 25 2019] httpdeqnegovPublicansfpagesWAS057

4 Nebraska Product Stewardship Coalition Waste Why itrsquos an Issue and What Nebraska Can Do About It [Online] 2012 [Cited February 25 2019] wwwproductstewardshipusresourceresmgrimportedfinal_waste_issue_and_what_nebraska_can_do_about_itpdf

5 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report [Online] October 2016 [Cited February 28 2019] httpswwwepagovsmmrecycling-economic-information-rei-report

6 Stanford University PSSIStanford Recycling Frequently Asked Questions [Online] [Cited March 1 2019] httpslbrestanfordedupssistanford-recyclingfrequently-asked-questionsfrequently-asked-questions-more-recycling

7 US Energy Information Administration US States State Profiles amp Energy Estimates Nebraska [Online] February 15 2018 [Cited March 1 2019] httpswwweiagovstate8 Nebraska Energy Office Annual Report 2018 [Online] [Cited February 26 2019] httpwwwneonegovannual_reptNEOAnnualReportpdf9 Clean Energy Trust Clean Jobs Midwest Nebraska [Online] 2018 [Cited March 12 2019] httpswwwcleanjobsmidwestcomstatenebraska10 National Association of State Energy Officials amp Energy Futures Initiative US Energy and Employment Report 2019 State Reports Nebraska [Online] 2019 [Cited March 11 2019]

httpsstatic1squarespacecomstatic5a98cf80ec4eb7c5cd928c61t5c7f41744e17b642f18c6b311551843700924Nebraskapdf

The percentage of Nebraskarsquos energy efficiency employers who reported that hiring qualified workers was ldquosomewhatrdquo or ldquoveryrdquo difficult in 2018 The top three rea-sons given were lack of experience training or technical skills location and insufficient non-technical skills (eg work ethic critical thinking etc) (10)

The percentage of Nebraskarsquos clean energy employers made up by small businesses with fewer than 20 employees (9)

690

834

15000

12000

9000

6000

3000

0

1525

521198

13024

Other 182

ENERGY STAR amp Efficient

Lighting 96

Advanced Materials

160

Traditional HVAC 235

High Efficiency HVAC +

Renewable HampC 327

3168

Solar 613

Wind 169

BioenergyCHP 157

Geothermal amp Low-Impact Hydroelectric 62

Energy Efficiency

Renewable Energy

Advanced Transportation

Advanced Grid

Clean Fuels

TABLE OF CONTENTS 11

APRIL 2019

What is a green industry This question can have many answers as there is no one official definition and the various defi-nitions that are available are multifaceted and often differ from one another However in 2010 the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) surveyed businesses across the state in order to identify green economic activities and used the information collected to develop a definition of green industries This article examines the current and predicted future trends for the top five green industry subsectors as determined by the results of the Nebraska Green Jobs Report (1)

To determine whether a business was green six different environmentally focused economic activities were identified Busi-nesses that participated in practices that fell into one or more of these categories were determined to be engaged in at least some green economic activity By calculating the number of employees in each businessrsquos workforce that engaged in green economic activities NDOL was able to rank industry subsectors by highest level of green employment Definitions of each green economic activity category used in the NDOL study are provided in the chart below (1)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos Greenest Industry Subsectors Jodie Meyer Research Analyst

Economic Activity Definition

1 Renewable Energy amp Alternative Fuels

Manufacturing production construction design research delivery operation storage and main-tenance of wind solar biomass hydro alternative transportation fuels geothermal methane and waste incineration as a fuel source

2 Environmental Cleanup amp Remediation amp Waste Clean-up Mitigation

Environmental remediation including the cleanup and disposal of pollution waste and hazardous materials SuperfundBrownfield redevelopment and landfill restoration

3 Energy Efficiency amp Conservation

Manufacturing construction installation and production of energy-efficient products (such as Energy Starndashrated appliances or efficient lighting) energy-efficiency services weatherization build-ing retrofittingefficiency energy-efficient production processes energy distribution improvements (eg smart grid) transportation technology and battery development and storage improvement

4 Education Regulation Compliance amp Training amp Energy Trading

Activities to educate the public business and government on energy efficiency renewable energy energy rating systems certifications and efficient consumption of energy resources Also includes efforts to inform appropriate parties about environmentalefficiency regulations and enforce compli-ance promote state energy standards and plans and provide training on effective use of energy-related products and processes In theory energy trading could include the buying and selling of power or fuels related to energy efficiency and renewable energy as well as cap-and-trade activity to control pollution

5 Pollution Waste amp Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management Prevention amp Reduction

Activities and research related to controlling commercial transportation and industrial emissions and pollution water treatment recycling operations waste product management and treatment and controlling and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases waste water and other pollutants

6 Sustainable Agriculture amp Natural Resource Conservation

Products and services to conserve maintain and improve natural resources and environment including low-carbon agriculture land management water management and conservation wet-lands restoration and mitigation and environmental and wildlife conservation Includes bio-sci-ence-related activities and research

Nebraska Green Jobs Study Economic Activity Definitions

Table Source Nebraska Department of Labor Nebraska Green Jobs Report (2010)Industry subsectors are defined at the three-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) level

12

The US Census Bureaursquos North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) defines the specialty trade contractors sub-sector as ldquoestablishments whose primary activity is performing specific activities (eg pouring concrete site preparation plumb-ing painting and electrical work) involved in building construction or other activities that are similar for all types of construction but that are not responsible for the entire projectrdquo (2)

NDOLrsquos Green Jobs Report classified spe-cialty trade contractors as a top green industry subsector primarily due to its involvement in business activities related to green category 3 energy efficiency and conservation For example workers in this subsector often install energy-efficient products such as Energy Starndashrated appli-ances or provide weatherizing services to buildings (1)

In 2017 there were 4656 specialty trade contractor establishments in Nebraska employing 34188 workers with an average of seven employees per establishment This subsector comprised 35 of Nebraskarsquos total employment statewide The aver-age weekly wage for employees of specialty trade contractors was $918 which is higher than the overall statewide average of $862 per week (3)

As outlined in the graph above employment in Nebraskarsquos specialty trade contractors subsector grew by 231 between 2001 and 2017 and by 125 since 2007 (3) This subsector is expected to continue on this trend growing by a projected 150 (4993 new jobs) between 2016 and 2026 (4)

Specialty Trade ContractorsSpecialty Trade Contractors Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

According to NAICS ldquoindustries in the professional scientific and technical services subsector group establish-ments engaged in processes where human capital is the major input These establishments make available the knowledge and skills of their employees often on an assignment basis where an individual or team is responsible for the delivery of services to the clientrdquo (2)

Due to the diversity of businesses classified within this subsector professional scientific and technical

Professional Scientific amp Technical ServicesProfessional Scientific amp Technical Services Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 13

APRIL 2019

According to NAICS businesses in the merchant wholesalers of dura-ble goods subsector ldquosell capital or durable goods to other businesses Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell in other words they buy and sell goods on their own accountrdquo Durable goods are defined as items that generally have a normal life expectancy of three years or more Merchant wholesalers of durable goods therefore wholesale products ldquosuch as motor vehicles fur-niture construction materials machin-ery and equipment (including household-type appliances) metals and minerals (except petroleum) sporting goods toys and hobby goods recyclable materials and partsrdquo (2)

Merchant wholesalers of recyclable materials are classified within this subsector which accounts for it being identified as a top green industry according to the NDOL Green Jobs Report (1)

As of 2017 there were 2312 establishments in Nebraskarsquos merchant wholesalers of durable goods subsector employing 20110 workers statewide With an average of nine employees per establishment merchant wholesalers of durable goods accounted for 21 of total employment in Nebraska The average weekly wage for workers in this subsector was $1193 higher than the statersquos overall average of $862 (3)

Employment in the merchant wholesalers of durable goods subsector remained relatively stable between 2001 and 2017 as depicted in the graph above decreasing slightly (-29) from 2001 to 2017 In the ten-year period from 2007 to 2017 how-ever employment in this subsector went up by 43 (3) Merchant wholesalers of durable goods are expected to continue on this trend of slow and steady growth with a 43 rise in employment (867 new jobs) projected between 2016 and 2026 (4)

Merchant Wholesalers - Durable GoodsMerchant Wholesalers of Durable Goods Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

services establishments were found to be involved in a variety of work spanning all six green economic activity categories Some examples included engineering green products designing more energy-efficient buildings and scientific research into biofuels (1)

In 2017 there were 6810 professional scientific and technical services establishments in Nebraska together employing about 45976 workers for an average of seven employees per establishment This subsector accounted for 94 of all business establishments in Nebraska and 47 of total employment statewide The average weekly wage for workers in the professional scientific and technical services subsector was $1297 the highest of any green industry we analyzed (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos professional scientific and technical services industry subsector grew by 309 from 2001 to 2017 as shown in the chart on the previous page (3) It is projected to continue growing by 181 from 2016 to 2026 add-ing 7976 new jobs to the statersquos economy (4)

14

As defined by NAICS ldquoindustries in the waste management and remediation services subsector group establish-ments engaged in the collection treat-ment and disposal of waste materialsrdquo A significant share of businesses in this subsector engaged in work that was classified within one or more of NDOLrsquos six green activity categories For example recycling facilities are considered waste management and remediation services as are busi-nesses engaged in hazardous waste collection treatment and disposal or remediation (2) Each of these activi-ties fall into NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 (1)

In 2017 there were 272 waste man-agement and remediation services establishments in Nebraska employ-ing 2728 workers for an average of 10 employees per establishment Of the green industries we analyzed this was the smallest accounting for 03 of Nebraskarsquos total employ-ment Average weekly wages for this industry subsector were $862 exactly matching the statewide average for all occupations (3)

Employment in waste management and remediation services has been increasing in Nebraska as exhibited in the graph above with 467 growth between 2001 and 2017 and 263 growth since 2007 (3) This subsector is expected to continue to grow with a projected increase of 141 between 2016 and 2026 for a total of 365 new jobs throughout the state (4)

Waste Management amp Remediation ServicesWaste Management amp Remediation Services Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Graphics by avian on 123rf

TABLE OF CONTENTS 15

APRIL 2019

The transportation equipment manu-facturing industry subsector includes businesses that ldquoproduce equipment for transporting people and goodsrdquo (2) It ranked among the top 5 greenest sub-sectors because it encompasses a large number of establishments that engaged in work classified within NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 pollu-tion waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) management prevention and reduction For example businesses in the transpor-tation equipment manufacturing sub-sector might work to develop design or

manufacture vehicles that produce fewer emissions than conventional transportation options (1)

Nebraska had 83 transportation equipment manufacturing establishments as of 2017 which employed 8350 workers statewide This subsector had the highest average number of employees per establishment of the subsectors we examined with 101 workers per establishment on average However transportation equipment manufacturers accounted for just 09 of Nebraskarsquos total employment and about 01 of all business establishments in the state Average weekly wages were $966 above the overall statewide average of $862 (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos transportation equipment manufacturing subsector fell substantially after hitting its peak in 2008 followed by a period of modest growth as displayed in the graph above Total employment was 56 higher in 2017 than it had been in 2001 but fell by 55 from 2007 to 2017 (3) This subsector is expected to work its way back to its earlier trend with a projected 48 increase in employment between 2016 and 2026 equating to 396 additional Nebraska jobs (4)

Transportation Equipment ManufacturingTransportation Equipment Manufacturing Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Nebraskarsquos top five greenest industry subsectors as determined by the 2010 Nebraska Green Jobs Report include a diverse variety of business establishments engaged in six different categories of green economic activity An explora-tion of historical employment data within these subsectors and projections for their future reveals that even the most seemingly unlikely industries can offer valuable contributions to Nebraskarsquos green economy

More information on the NDOL Green Jobs Report and the full details of its findings can be found on NEworks

The Final Word

Sources1 Nebraska Department of Labor Labor Market Information Nebraska Green Jobs Report [Online] 2010 httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploads

Nebraska20Green20Jobs20Reportpdf2 United States Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System 2017 NAICS [Online] 2017 httpswwwcensusgovcgi-binsssdnaics

naicsrchchart=20173 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages [Online] 2017 neworksnebraskagov4 Long-term Occupation Employment Projections 2016-2026 Nebraska Statewide [Online] 2018 July httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=440

12

The US Census Bureaursquos North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) defines the specialty trade contractors sub-sector as ldquoestablishments whose primary activity is performing specific activities (eg pouring concrete site preparation plumb-ing painting and electrical work) involved in building construction or other activities that are similar for all types of construction but that are not responsible for the entire projectrdquo (2)

NDOLrsquos Green Jobs Report classified spe-cialty trade contractors as a top green industry subsector primarily due to its involvement in business activities related to green category 3 energy efficiency and conservation For example workers in this subsector often install energy-efficient products such as Energy Starndashrated appli-ances or provide weatherizing services to buildings (1)

In 2017 there were 4656 specialty trade contractor establishments in Nebraska employing 34188 workers with an average of seven employees per establishment This subsector comprised 35 of Nebraskarsquos total employment statewide The aver-age weekly wage for employees of specialty trade contractors was $918 which is higher than the overall statewide average of $862 per week (3)

As outlined in the graph above employment in Nebraskarsquos specialty trade contractors subsector grew by 231 between 2001 and 2017 and by 125 since 2007 (3) This subsector is expected to continue on this trend growing by a projected 150 (4993 new jobs) between 2016 and 2026 (4)

Specialty Trade ContractorsSpecialty Trade Contractors Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

According to NAICS ldquoindustries in the professional scientific and technical services subsector group establish-ments engaged in processes where human capital is the major input These establishments make available the knowledge and skills of their employees often on an assignment basis where an individual or team is responsible for the delivery of services to the clientrdquo (2)

Due to the diversity of businesses classified within this subsector professional scientific and technical

Professional Scientific amp Technical ServicesProfessional Scientific amp Technical Services Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 13

APRIL 2019

According to NAICS businesses in the merchant wholesalers of dura-ble goods subsector ldquosell capital or durable goods to other businesses Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell in other words they buy and sell goods on their own accountrdquo Durable goods are defined as items that generally have a normal life expectancy of three years or more Merchant wholesalers of durable goods therefore wholesale products ldquosuch as motor vehicles fur-niture construction materials machin-ery and equipment (including household-type appliances) metals and minerals (except petroleum) sporting goods toys and hobby goods recyclable materials and partsrdquo (2)

Merchant wholesalers of recyclable materials are classified within this subsector which accounts for it being identified as a top green industry according to the NDOL Green Jobs Report (1)

As of 2017 there were 2312 establishments in Nebraskarsquos merchant wholesalers of durable goods subsector employing 20110 workers statewide With an average of nine employees per establishment merchant wholesalers of durable goods accounted for 21 of total employment in Nebraska The average weekly wage for workers in this subsector was $1193 higher than the statersquos overall average of $862 (3)

Employment in the merchant wholesalers of durable goods subsector remained relatively stable between 2001 and 2017 as depicted in the graph above decreasing slightly (-29) from 2001 to 2017 In the ten-year period from 2007 to 2017 how-ever employment in this subsector went up by 43 (3) Merchant wholesalers of durable goods are expected to continue on this trend of slow and steady growth with a 43 rise in employment (867 new jobs) projected between 2016 and 2026 (4)

Merchant Wholesalers - Durable GoodsMerchant Wholesalers of Durable Goods Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

services establishments were found to be involved in a variety of work spanning all six green economic activity categories Some examples included engineering green products designing more energy-efficient buildings and scientific research into biofuels (1)

In 2017 there were 6810 professional scientific and technical services establishments in Nebraska together employing about 45976 workers for an average of seven employees per establishment This subsector accounted for 94 of all business establishments in Nebraska and 47 of total employment statewide The average weekly wage for workers in the professional scientific and technical services subsector was $1297 the highest of any green industry we analyzed (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos professional scientific and technical services industry subsector grew by 309 from 2001 to 2017 as shown in the chart on the previous page (3) It is projected to continue growing by 181 from 2016 to 2026 add-ing 7976 new jobs to the statersquos economy (4)

14

As defined by NAICS ldquoindustries in the waste management and remediation services subsector group establish-ments engaged in the collection treat-ment and disposal of waste materialsrdquo A significant share of businesses in this subsector engaged in work that was classified within one or more of NDOLrsquos six green activity categories For example recycling facilities are considered waste management and remediation services as are busi-nesses engaged in hazardous waste collection treatment and disposal or remediation (2) Each of these activi-ties fall into NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 (1)

In 2017 there were 272 waste man-agement and remediation services establishments in Nebraska employ-ing 2728 workers for an average of 10 employees per establishment Of the green industries we analyzed this was the smallest accounting for 03 of Nebraskarsquos total employ-ment Average weekly wages for this industry subsector were $862 exactly matching the statewide average for all occupations (3)

Employment in waste management and remediation services has been increasing in Nebraska as exhibited in the graph above with 467 growth between 2001 and 2017 and 263 growth since 2007 (3) This subsector is expected to continue to grow with a projected increase of 141 between 2016 and 2026 for a total of 365 new jobs throughout the state (4)

Waste Management amp Remediation ServicesWaste Management amp Remediation Services Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Graphics by avian on 123rf

TABLE OF CONTENTS 15

APRIL 2019

The transportation equipment manu-facturing industry subsector includes businesses that ldquoproduce equipment for transporting people and goodsrdquo (2) It ranked among the top 5 greenest sub-sectors because it encompasses a large number of establishments that engaged in work classified within NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 pollu-tion waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) management prevention and reduction For example businesses in the transpor-tation equipment manufacturing sub-sector might work to develop design or

manufacture vehicles that produce fewer emissions than conventional transportation options (1)

Nebraska had 83 transportation equipment manufacturing establishments as of 2017 which employed 8350 workers statewide This subsector had the highest average number of employees per establishment of the subsectors we examined with 101 workers per establishment on average However transportation equipment manufacturers accounted for just 09 of Nebraskarsquos total employment and about 01 of all business establishments in the state Average weekly wages were $966 above the overall statewide average of $862 (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos transportation equipment manufacturing subsector fell substantially after hitting its peak in 2008 followed by a period of modest growth as displayed in the graph above Total employment was 56 higher in 2017 than it had been in 2001 but fell by 55 from 2007 to 2017 (3) This subsector is expected to work its way back to its earlier trend with a projected 48 increase in employment between 2016 and 2026 equating to 396 additional Nebraska jobs (4)

Transportation Equipment ManufacturingTransportation Equipment Manufacturing Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Nebraskarsquos top five greenest industry subsectors as determined by the 2010 Nebraska Green Jobs Report include a diverse variety of business establishments engaged in six different categories of green economic activity An explora-tion of historical employment data within these subsectors and projections for their future reveals that even the most seemingly unlikely industries can offer valuable contributions to Nebraskarsquos green economy

More information on the NDOL Green Jobs Report and the full details of its findings can be found on NEworks

The Final Word

Sources1 Nebraska Department of Labor Labor Market Information Nebraska Green Jobs Report [Online] 2010 httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploads

Nebraska20Green20Jobs20Reportpdf2 United States Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System 2017 NAICS [Online] 2017 httpswwwcensusgovcgi-binsssdnaics

naicsrchchart=20173 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages [Online] 2017 neworksnebraskagov4 Long-term Occupation Employment Projections 2016-2026 Nebraska Statewide [Online] 2018 July httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=440

TABLE OF CONTENTS 13

APRIL 2019

According to NAICS businesses in the merchant wholesalers of dura-ble goods subsector ldquosell capital or durable goods to other businesses Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell in other words they buy and sell goods on their own accountrdquo Durable goods are defined as items that generally have a normal life expectancy of three years or more Merchant wholesalers of durable goods therefore wholesale products ldquosuch as motor vehicles fur-niture construction materials machin-ery and equipment (including household-type appliances) metals and minerals (except petroleum) sporting goods toys and hobby goods recyclable materials and partsrdquo (2)

Merchant wholesalers of recyclable materials are classified within this subsector which accounts for it being identified as a top green industry according to the NDOL Green Jobs Report (1)

As of 2017 there were 2312 establishments in Nebraskarsquos merchant wholesalers of durable goods subsector employing 20110 workers statewide With an average of nine employees per establishment merchant wholesalers of durable goods accounted for 21 of total employment in Nebraska The average weekly wage for workers in this subsector was $1193 higher than the statersquos overall average of $862 (3)

Employment in the merchant wholesalers of durable goods subsector remained relatively stable between 2001 and 2017 as depicted in the graph above decreasing slightly (-29) from 2001 to 2017 In the ten-year period from 2007 to 2017 how-ever employment in this subsector went up by 43 (3) Merchant wholesalers of durable goods are expected to continue on this trend of slow and steady growth with a 43 rise in employment (867 new jobs) projected between 2016 and 2026 (4)

Merchant Wholesalers - Durable GoodsMerchant Wholesalers of Durable Goods Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

services establishments were found to be involved in a variety of work spanning all six green economic activity categories Some examples included engineering green products designing more energy-efficient buildings and scientific research into biofuels (1)

In 2017 there were 6810 professional scientific and technical services establishments in Nebraska together employing about 45976 workers for an average of seven employees per establishment This subsector accounted for 94 of all business establishments in Nebraska and 47 of total employment statewide The average weekly wage for workers in the professional scientific and technical services subsector was $1297 the highest of any green industry we analyzed (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos professional scientific and technical services industry subsector grew by 309 from 2001 to 2017 as shown in the chart on the previous page (3) It is projected to continue growing by 181 from 2016 to 2026 add-ing 7976 new jobs to the statersquos economy (4)

14

As defined by NAICS ldquoindustries in the waste management and remediation services subsector group establish-ments engaged in the collection treat-ment and disposal of waste materialsrdquo A significant share of businesses in this subsector engaged in work that was classified within one or more of NDOLrsquos six green activity categories For example recycling facilities are considered waste management and remediation services as are busi-nesses engaged in hazardous waste collection treatment and disposal or remediation (2) Each of these activi-ties fall into NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 (1)

In 2017 there were 272 waste man-agement and remediation services establishments in Nebraska employ-ing 2728 workers for an average of 10 employees per establishment Of the green industries we analyzed this was the smallest accounting for 03 of Nebraskarsquos total employ-ment Average weekly wages for this industry subsector were $862 exactly matching the statewide average for all occupations (3)

Employment in waste management and remediation services has been increasing in Nebraska as exhibited in the graph above with 467 growth between 2001 and 2017 and 263 growth since 2007 (3) This subsector is expected to continue to grow with a projected increase of 141 between 2016 and 2026 for a total of 365 new jobs throughout the state (4)

Waste Management amp Remediation ServicesWaste Management amp Remediation Services Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Graphics by avian on 123rf

TABLE OF CONTENTS 15

APRIL 2019

The transportation equipment manu-facturing industry subsector includes businesses that ldquoproduce equipment for transporting people and goodsrdquo (2) It ranked among the top 5 greenest sub-sectors because it encompasses a large number of establishments that engaged in work classified within NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 pollu-tion waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) management prevention and reduction For example businesses in the transpor-tation equipment manufacturing sub-sector might work to develop design or

manufacture vehicles that produce fewer emissions than conventional transportation options (1)

Nebraska had 83 transportation equipment manufacturing establishments as of 2017 which employed 8350 workers statewide This subsector had the highest average number of employees per establishment of the subsectors we examined with 101 workers per establishment on average However transportation equipment manufacturers accounted for just 09 of Nebraskarsquos total employment and about 01 of all business establishments in the state Average weekly wages were $966 above the overall statewide average of $862 (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos transportation equipment manufacturing subsector fell substantially after hitting its peak in 2008 followed by a period of modest growth as displayed in the graph above Total employment was 56 higher in 2017 than it had been in 2001 but fell by 55 from 2007 to 2017 (3) This subsector is expected to work its way back to its earlier trend with a projected 48 increase in employment between 2016 and 2026 equating to 396 additional Nebraska jobs (4)

Transportation Equipment ManufacturingTransportation Equipment Manufacturing Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Nebraskarsquos top five greenest industry subsectors as determined by the 2010 Nebraska Green Jobs Report include a diverse variety of business establishments engaged in six different categories of green economic activity An explora-tion of historical employment data within these subsectors and projections for their future reveals that even the most seemingly unlikely industries can offer valuable contributions to Nebraskarsquos green economy

More information on the NDOL Green Jobs Report and the full details of its findings can be found on NEworks

The Final Word

Sources1 Nebraska Department of Labor Labor Market Information Nebraska Green Jobs Report [Online] 2010 httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploads

Nebraska20Green20Jobs20Reportpdf2 United States Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System 2017 NAICS [Online] 2017 httpswwwcensusgovcgi-binsssdnaics

naicsrchchart=20173 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages [Online] 2017 neworksnebraskagov4 Long-term Occupation Employment Projections 2016-2026 Nebraska Statewide [Online] 2018 July httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=440

14

As defined by NAICS ldquoindustries in the waste management and remediation services subsector group establish-ments engaged in the collection treat-ment and disposal of waste materialsrdquo A significant share of businesses in this subsector engaged in work that was classified within one or more of NDOLrsquos six green activity categories For example recycling facilities are considered waste management and remediation services as are busi-nesses engaged in hazardous waste collection treatment and disposal or remediation (2) Each of these activi-ties fall into NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 (1)

In 2017 there were 272 waste man-agement and remediation services establishments in Nebraska employ-ing 2728 workers for an average of 10 employees per establishment Of the green industries we analyzed this was the smallest accounting for 03 of Nebraskarsquos total employ-ment Average weekly wages for this industry subsector were $862 exactly matching the statewide average for all occupations (3)

Employment in waste management and remediation services has been increasing in Nebraska as exhibited in the graph above with 467 growth between 2001 and 2017 and 263 growth since 2007 (3) This subsector is expected to continue to grow with a projected increase of 141 between 2016 and 2026 for a total of 365 new jobs throughout the state (4)

Waste Management amp Remediation ServicesWaste Management amp Remediation Services Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Graphics by avian on 123rf

TABLE OF CONTENTS 15

APRIL 2019

The transportation equipment manu-facturing industry subsector includes businesses that ldquoproduce equipment for transporting people and goodsrdquo (2) It ranked among the top 5 greenest sub-sectors because it encompasses a large number of establishments that engaged in work classified within NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 pollu-tion waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) management prevention and reduction For example businesses in the transpor-tation equipment manufacturing sub-sector might work to develop design or

manufacture vehicles that produce fewer emissions than conventional transportation options (1)

Nebraska had 83 transportation equipment manufacturing establishments as of 2017 which employed 8350 workers statewide This subsector had the highest average number of employees per establishment of the subsectors we examined with 101 workers per establishment on average However transportation equipment manufacturers accounted for just 09 of Nebraskarsquos total employment and about 01 of all business establishments in the state Average weekly wages were $966 above the overall statewide average of $862 (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos transportation equipment manufacturing subsector fell substantially after hitting its peak in 2008 followed by a period of modest growth as displayed in the graph above Total employment was 56 higher in 2017 than it had been in 2001 but fell by 55 from 2007 to 2017 (3) This subsector is expected to work its way back to its earlier trend with a projected 48 increase in employment between 2016 and 2026 equating to 396 additional Nebraska jobs (4)

Transportation Equipment ManufacturingTransportation Equipment Manufacturing Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Nebraskarsquos top five greenest industry subsectors as determined by the 2010 Nebraska Green Jobs Report include a diverse variety of business establishments engaged in six different categories of green economic activity An explora-tion of historical employment data within these subsectors and projections for their future reveals that even the most seemingly unlikely industries can offer valuable contributions to Nebraskarsquos green economy

More information on the NDOL Green Jobs Report and the full details of its findings can be found on NEworks

The Final Word

Sources1 Nebraska Department of Labor Labor Market Information Nebraska Green Jobs Report [Online] 2010 httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploads

Nebraska20Green20Jobs20Reportpdf2 United States Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System 2017 NAICS [Online] 2017 httpswwwcensusgovcgi-binsssdnaics

naicsrchchart=20173 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages [Online] 2017 neworksnebraskagov4 Long-term Occupation Employment Projections 2016-2026 Nebraska Statewide [Online] 2018 July httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=440

TABLE OF CONTENTS 15

APRIL 2019

The transportation equipment manu-facturing industry subsector includes businesses that ldquoproduce equipment for transporting people and goodsrdquo (2) It ranked among the top 5 greenest sub-sectors because it encompasses a large number of establishments that engaged in work classified within NDOLrsquos green economic activity category 5 pollu-tion waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) management prevention and reduction For example businesses in the transpor-tation equipment manufacturing sub-sector might work to develop design or

manufacture vehicles that produce fewer emissions than conventional transportation options (1)

Nebraska had 83 transportation equipment manufacturing establishments as of 2017 which employed 8350 workers statewide This subsector had the highest average number of employees per establishment of the subsectors we examined with 101 workers per establishment on average However transportation equipment manufacturers accounted for just 09 of Nebraskarsquos total employment and about 01 of all business establishments in the state Average weekly wages were $966 above the overall statewide average of $862 (3)

Employment in Nebraskarsquos transportation equipment manufacturing subsector fell substantially after hitting its peak in 2008 followed by a period of modest growth as displayed in the graph above Total employment was 56 higher in 2017 than it had been in 2001 but fell by 55 from 2007 to 2017 (3) This subsector is expected to work its way back to its earlier trend with a projected 48 increase in employment between 2016 and 2026 equating to 396 additional Nebraska jobs (4)

Transportation Equipment ManufacturingTransportation Equipment Manufacturing Average Annual Employment in Nebraska 2001 - 2017

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) (Annual averages 2001-2017)

Nebraskarsquos top five greenest industry subsectors as determined by the 2010 Nebraska Green Jobs Report include a diverse variety of business establishments engaged in six different categories of green economic activity An explora-tion of historical employment data within these subsectors and projections for their future reveals that even the most seemingly unlikely industries can offer valuable contributions to Nebraskarsquos green economy

More information on the NDOL Green Jobs Report and the full details of its findings can be found on NEworks

The Final Word

Sources1 Nebraska Department of Labor Labor Market Information Nebraska Green Jobs Report [Online] 2010 httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploads

Nebraska20Green20Jobs20Reportpdf2 United States Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System 2017 NAICS [Online] 2017 httpswwwcensusgovcgi-binsssdnaics

naicsrchchart=20173 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages [Online] 2017 neworksnebraskagov4 Long-term Occupation Employment Projections 2016-2026 Nebraska Statewide [Online] 2018 July httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindexaspdocid=440

Arbor Day an annual holiday encouraging Americans to plant and celebrate trees began in Nebraska on April 10 1872 J Sterling Morton a nature lover and pioneer who had moved into the Nebraska Territory in 1854 first proposed the holiday to encourage Nebraska residents to plant trees throughout the plains which were largely treeless at that time for beauty windbreaks food and fuel It was estimated that more than one million trees were planted throughout Nebraska during the first Arbor Day celebration Today Arbor Day is nationally recognized on the last Friday in April and all 50 states have passed legislation adopting Arbor Day celebrations on various dates appropriate for tree planting in their local climate In Nebraska Arbor Day is an official state holiday which will be celebrated this year on Friday April 26 (1)

Also celebrated in April is Earth Day which was founded on April 22 1970 as a campaign to raise public awareness of envi-ronmental issues Today it is celebrated by more than a billion people worldwide each year and has grown into the worldrsquos the largest secular observance (2)

With Arbor Day and Earth Day just around the corner this month is the perfect time to highlight some green jobs in Nebraska Green jobs play an important role in the statersquos economy and can offer some great career opportunities for people who want to make a difference in their communities and our shared environment To learn more about these environ-mentally focused occupations wersquoll look at ten years of wage data as well as projections for what the future might hold for green jobs in Nebraska

Every May and November the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) works with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program to collect occupational and wage data from businesses throughout Nebraska The result is detailed information on occupations and wages that can be useful for both per-sonal and business-related research Nebraskarsquos OES team produces a wage data each quarter which is published and made available on NEworks

Green Jobs in NebraskaEmployment Wages amp Projected GrowthAndrew Bouwens Research Analyst

Graphics by avian on 123rf

16

TABLE OF CONTENTS 17

APRIL 2019

Generally speaking green jobs are jobs that are ldquorelated to preserving or restoring the environmentrdquo The BLS defines green jobs as ldquojobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natu-ral resourcesrdquo and ldquojobs in which workersrsquo duties involve making their establishmentrsquos production processes more envi-ronmentally friendly or use fewer natural resourcesrdquo (3)

Conservation scientists and foresters environmental engineers soil and plant scientists wind turbine service technicians and zoologists and wildlife biologists are a diverse group of occupations but each fits within the BLS green jobs criteria

Conservation Scientists amp Foresters

Conservation scientists and foresters ldquomanage the overall land quality of forests parks rangelands and other natural resourcesrdquo Typical job duties include planning and overseeing environmental conservation and habitat protection efforts determining strategies for harvesting natural resources with minimal environmental damage negotiating land-use con-tracts and directing and participating in forest fire suppression activities (4)

Conservation scientists and foresters typically require at least a bachelorrsquos degree in forestry or a related field and tend to work for governments (federal state or local) in social advocacy organizations or for private landowners with an interest in stewardship and compliance with environmental regulations such as farmers ranchers and tree harvesters (4)

Environmental Engineers

Environmental engineers ldquouse the principles of engineering soil science biology and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problemsrdquo They are often involved in recycling waste disposal public health and pollution control proj-ects Their work may involve designing environmental protection systems (such as municipal water management or air pollution control) preparing environmental impact studies conducting environmental quality control checks inspecting industrial or municipal facilities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and advising companies or govern-ments about procedures for avoiding environmental damage or cleaning up contaminated sites Environmental engineers may work in offices alongside urban or regional planners and other engineers provide consultations to businesses poli-cymakers or lawyers or work at outdoor sites where specific projects are taking place (4)

Entry-level positions require a bachelorrsquos degree in environmental engineering or a related field such as civil or general engineering Advanced degrees may be required for higher-level positions (4) To practice engineering in Nebraska a per-son must also be licensed by the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects (NBEA) (5)

Soil amp Plant Scientists

Soil and plant scientists ldquoconduct research in breeding physiology production yield and management of crops and agri-cultural plants or trees shrubs and nursery stock their growth in soils and control of pests or study the chemical phys-ical biological and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growthrdquo They are often employed by governments colleges and universities research institutions and industrial operations (4) Most soil and plant scientists have at least a bachelorrsquos degree but educational requirements vary by position (4)

What Are Green Jobs

18

Image by Pexels from PixabayImage by smarko from Pixabay

Image by Pexels from PixabayWind Turbine Service Technicians

Wind turbine service technicians ldquoinstall maintain and repair wind turbinesrdquo used for renewable energy production They monitor and inspect turbine systems and conduct regular routine maintenance to ensure turbine equipment functions properly When a turbine malfunctions wind turbine service technicians are tasked with diagnosing and repairing the problem Because the components that require servicing are typically located at the top of the turbine tower wind turbine service technicians must often work at great heights climbing tall ladders and rappelling to reach the part of the turbine that needs repairs (4)

Most wind turbine service technicians learn their trade by completing a wind energy certificate program at a technical school or community college Employers and turbine man-ufacturers also often provide extensive additional training after a new worker is hired (4)

Zoologists amp Wildlife Biologists

Zoologists and wildlife biologists ldquostudy animals and other wildlife and how they interact with their ecosystems They study the physical characteristics of animals animal behaviors and the impacts humans have on the wildlife and nat-ural habitatsrdquo They may work in offices in laboratories or outdoors observing animals in their natural habitats While many zoologists and wildlife biologists conduct research in academic settings such as colleges and universities some also do applied work such as advising policymak-ers and public officials and developing and implementing programs for the conservation and management of wildlife populations (4)

Entry-level jobs for zoologists and wildlife biologists usually require a bachelorrsquos degree but a masterrsquos degree or doctorate is usually necessary for most higher-level scientific positions especially those in colleges or universities (4)

APRIL 2019

Median hourly wages are shown in the chart below Both conservation scientists and foresters saw a 154 increase in their median wages between 2009 and 2018 Over the last ten years the median wage for environmental engineers grew by 192 while the median wage for soil and plant scientists was 191 higher in 2018 than in 2009 In the same time the statewide median wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists increased by 193 Wage information for wind turbine service technicians was not available for public release (6)

Green Jobsrsquo Wages

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program (4th Quarter 2018) Conservation scientists and foresters are grouped together for many statistical purposes but separate wage data is available for both Wage data for wind turbine service technicians are not available for release due to the BLS confidentiality policy which assures respondents that published figures will not reveal their identity or allow it to be inferred To further protect confidentiality the specific screening criteria used to make such determinations are also withheld from public release

Median Hourly Wages for NE Green Jobs 2009 - 2018

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

TABLE OF CONTENTS 19

20

Every other year NDOL produces long-term (ten-year) projections for industries and occupations in Nebraska which are made available to the public on NEworks As shown by the graph below employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 85 or more for all five green jobs analyzed in this article between 2016 and 2026 For comparison overall employment for all occupa-tions statewide is expected to grow by 89 (7)

There were 265 conservation scientists and foresters in Nebraska in 2016 a number expected to grow to 294 by 2026 for a 109 increase The number of environmental engineers employed throughout the state is projected to increase from 383 in 2016 to 436 in 2026 growing by 138 over ten years For soil and plant scientists employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 123 from 879 in 2016 to 987 in 2026 (7)

Significant growth in employment of wind turbine service technicians is expected between 2016 and 2026 The number of Nebraskans employed in this occupation is expected to skyrocket by 908 during this time period from 120 to 229 In fact in terms of percent change wind turbine service technicians are projected to see faster employment growth in Nebraska than any other occupation from 2016 to 2026 (7)

Zoologists and wildlife biologists are expected to see the most modest increases of the five green occupations with a projected increase of 85 between 2016 and 2026 from 176 to 191 (7)

As renewable sources of energy become more advanced affordable and common in the United States there is likely to be increased demand for workers to create and maintain the infrastructure necessary to support these growing industries According to nationwide occupational projections from the BLS the two occupations expected to experience the fastest employment growth in the US from 2016 to 2026 are solar photovoltaic installers (who install and maintain the systems used to generate solar energy) and wind turbine service technicians which are projected to see increases of 1049 and 963 respectively In compari-son total nationwide employment is expected to increase by just 74 The rapid growth anticipated for these occupations means that solar photovoltaic installers are projected to add an astounding 11800 jobs nationally and wind turbine service technicians are projected to add another 5600 jobs over the next ten years (8)

The Future of Green Jobs 2016-2026 Projections

Employment in NE Green Jobs 2016-2026 (Projected)

Chart Source NE Department of Labor Long-Term Occupational Projections (July 2018)

2016 2026 (Projected)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 21

APRIL 2019

The Nebraska Department of Labor classifies and ranks occupations as ldquoH3rdquo (high wage high skill high demand) based on comparisons of typical wages skill and training requirements and the projected level of future labor market demand Because they offer a high probability that qualified workers will be able to secure employment and a competitive rate of pay H3 occupations are typically considered excellent career options (9)

Environmental engineers soil and plant scientists and wind turbine service technicians all qualified as H3 occupations in 2018 Each of these occupations is expected to have a large number of annual job openings through 2026 and each offers workers with the required skills the opportunity to earn a wage higher than the baseline for all occupations (10)

To be considered H3 an occupation must meet the criteria required for all three designations high wage high skill and high demand An occupation that misses the mark in any category would be excluded For example zoologists and wildlife biologists must be highly skilled and typically receive high pay but their work is too specialized to generate a high level of demand so they would not qualify as H3 Jobs that are not considered H3 are therefore not necessarily bad career pros-pects but job seekers looking for employment in these occupations may have a more difficult time finding open positions and may face a high level of competition from other qualified applicants

H3 High Wage High Skill High Demand

Green jobs are on the rise in Nebraska As people become increasingly environmentally conscious and green technology continues to evolve green jobs are expected to continue to cement their place in the statersquos economy With rapid employ-ment growth and competitive wages these occupations can offer significant benefits to workers as well as the planet

The Final Word

Sources1 Arbor Day Foundation The History of Arbor Day What is Arbor Day [Online] [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwarbordayorgcelebratehistorycfm2 Earth Day Network The History of Earth Day [Online] 2019 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwearthdayorgaboutthe-history-of-earth-day3 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Measuring Green Jobs The BLS Green Jobs Definition [Online] March 1 2013 httpswwwblsgovgreenhomehtmdefinition4 Occupational Outlook Handbook [Online] March 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwblsgovoohlife-physical-and-social-sciencezoologists-and-wildlife-biologists

htm httpswwwblsgovooh5 Nebraska Department of Labor Licensed Occupations in Nebraska Office of Labor Market Information [Online] 2015 [Cited March 19 2019] neworksnebraskagov

admingsipubhtmlareauploadsLicensed-Finalpdf6 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program Employment and Wage Estimates [Online] 4th

Quarter 2018 [Cited March 18 2019] neblswagesnwdnegov7 NEworks Data Download Center Long-Term Occupation Employment Projections [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindex

aspdocid=4338 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Occupational Projections Data [Online] February 8 2019 [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwblsgovempdata

occupational-datahtm9 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Nebraska Economic Insight amp Outlook Report H3 Occupations [Online] October 2018 [Cited March 8

2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploadsNebraska20Economic20Insight20Outlook2018pdf10 NEworks Data Download Center High Wage High Skill and High Demand (H3) Occupations [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 8 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagov

gsipubindexaspdocid=1165

Occupation High Wage High Skill High Demand H3

Conservation Scientists amp Foresters P P X XEnvironmental Engineers P P P

Soil amp Plant Scientists P P P

Wind Turbine Service Technicians P P P

Zoologists amp Wildlife Biologists P P X X

18

Image by Pexels from PixabayImage by smarko from Pixabay

Image by Pexels from PixabayWind Turbine Service Technicians

Wind turbine service technicians ldquoinstall maintain and repair wind turbinesrdquo used for renewable energy production They monitor and inspect turbine systems and conduct regular routine maintenance to ensure turbine equipment functions properly When a turbine malfunctions wind turbine service technicians are tasked with diagnosing and repairing the problem Because the components that require servicing are typically located at the top of the turbine tower wind turbine service technicians must often work at great heights climbing tall ladders and rappelling to reach the part of the turbine that needs repairs (4)

Most wind turbine service technicians learn their trade by completing a wind energy certificate program at a technical school or community college Employers and turbine man-ufacturers also often provide extensive additional training after a new worker is hired (4)

Zoologists amp Wildlife Biologists

Zoologists and wildlife biologists ldquostudy animals and other wildlife and how they interact with their ecosystems They study the physical characteristics of animals animal behaviors and the impacts humans have on the wildlife and nat-ural habitatsrdquo They may work in offices in laboratories or outdoors observing animals in their natural habitats While many zoologists and wildlife biologists conduct research in academic settings such as colleges and universities some also do applied work such as advising policymak-ers and public officials and developing and implementing programs for the conservation and management of wildlife populations (4)

Entry-level jobs for zoologists and wildlife biologists usually require a bachelorrsquos degree but a masterrsquos degree or doctorate is usually necessary for most higher-level scientific positions especially those in colleges or universities (4)

APRIL 2019

Median hourly wages are shown in the chart below Both conservation scientists and foresters saw a 154 increase in their median wages between 2009 and 2018 Over the last ten years the median wage for environmental engineers grew by 192 while the median wage for soil and plant scientists was 191 higher in 2018 than in 2009 In the same time the statewide median wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists increased by 193 Wage information for wind turbine service technicians was not available for public release (6)

Green Jobsrsquo Wages

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program (4th Quarter 2018) Conservation scientists and foresters are grouped together for many statistical purposes but separate wage data is available for both Wage data for wind turbine service technicians are not available for release due to the BLS confidentiality policy which assures respondents that published figures will not reveal their identity or allow it to be inferred To further protect confidentiality the specific screening criteria used to make such determinations are also withheld from public release

Median Hourly Wages for NE Green Jobs 2009 - 2018

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

TABLE OF CONTENTS 19

20

Every other year NDOL produces long-term (ten-year) projections for industries and occupations in Nebraska which are made available to the public on NEworks As shown by the graph below employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 85 or more for all five green jobs analyzed in this article between 2016 and 2026 For comparison overall employment for all occupa-tions statewide is expected to grow by 89 (7)

There were 265 conservation scientists and foresters in Nebraska in 2016 a number expected to grow to 294 by 2026 for a 109 increase The number of environmental engineers employed throughout the state is projected to increase from 383 in 2016 to 436 in 2026 growing by 138 over ten years For soil and plant scientists employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 123 from 879 in 2016 to 987 in 2026 (7)

Significant growth in employment of wind turbine service technicians is expected between 2016 and 2026 The number of Nebraskans employed in this occupation is expected to skyrocket by 908 during this time period from 120 to 229 In fact in terms of percent change wind turbine service technicians are projected to see faster employment growth in Nebraska than any other occupation from 2016 to 2026 (7)

Zoologists and wildlife biologists are expected to see the most modest increases of the five green occupations with a projected increase of 85 between 2016 and 2026 from 176 to 191 (7)

As renewable sources of energy become more advanced affordable and common in the United States there is likely to be increased demand for workers to create and maintain the infrastructure necessary to support these growing industries According to nationwide occupational projections from the BLS the two occupations expected to experience the fastest employment growth in the US from 2016 to 2026 are solar photovoltaic installers (who install and maintain the systems used to generate solar energy) and wind turbine service technicians which are projected to see increases of 1049 and 963 respectively In compari-son total nationwide employment is expected to increase by just 74 The rapid growth anticipated for these occupations means that solar photovoltaic installers are projected to add an astounding 11800 jobs nationally and wind turbine service technicians are projected to add another 5600 jobs over the next ten years (8)

The Future of Green Jobs 2016-2026 Projections

Employment in NE Green Jobs 2016-2026 (Projected)

Chart Source NE Department of Labor Long-Term Occupational Projections (July 2018)

2016 2026 (Projected)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 21

APRIL 2019

The Nebraska Department of Labor classifies and ranks occupations as ldquoH3rdquo (high wage high skill high demand) based on comparisons of typical wages skill and training requirements and the projected level of future labor market demand Because they offer a high probability that qualified workers will be able to secure employment and a competitive rate of pay H3 occupations are typically considered excellent career options (9)

Environmental engineers soil and plant scientists and wind turbine service technicians all qualified as H3 occupations in 2018 Each of these occupations is expected to have a large number of annual job openings through 2026 and each offers workers with the required skills the opportunity to earn a wage higher than the baseline for all occupations (10)

To be considered H3 an occupation must meet the criteria required for all three designations high wage high skill and high demand An occupation that misses the mark in any category would be excluded For example zoologists and wildlife biologists must be highly skilled and typically receive high pay but their work is too specialized to generate a high level of demand so they would not qualify as H3 Jobs that are not considered H3 are therefore not necessarily bad career pros-pects but job seekers looking for employment in these occupations may have a more difficult time finding open positions and may face a high level of competition from other qualified applicants

H3 High Wage High Skill High Demand

Green jobs are on the rise in Nebraska As people become increasingly environmentally conscious and green technology continues to evolve green jobs are expected to continue to cement their place in the statersquos economy With rapid employ-ment growth and competitive wages these occupations can offer significant benefits to workers as well as the planet

The Final Word

Sources1 Arbor Day Foundation The History of Arbor Day What is Arbor Day [Online] [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwarbordayorgcelebratehistorycfm2 Earth Day Network The History of Earth Day [Online] 2019 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwearthdayorgaboutthe-history-of-earth-day3 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Measuring Green Jobs The BLS Green Jobs Definition [Online] March 1 2013 httpswwwblsgovgreenhomehtmdefinition4 Occupational Outlook Handbook [Online] March 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwblsgovoohlife-physical-and-social-sciencezoologists-and-wildlife-biologists

htm httpswwwblsgovooh5 Nebraska Department of Labor Licensed Occupations in Nebraska Office of Labor Market Information [Online] 2015 [Cited March 19 2019] neworksnebraskagov

admingsipubhtmlareauploadsLicensed-Finalpdf6 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program Employment and Wage Estimates [Online] 4th

Quarter 2018 [Cited March 18 2019] neblswagesnwdnegov7 NEworks Data Download Center Long-Term Occupation Employment Projections [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindex

aspdocid=4338 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Occupational Projections Data [Online] February 8 2019 [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwblsgovempdata

occupational-datahtm9 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Nebraska Economic Insight amp Outlook Report H3 Occupations [Online] October 2018 [Cited March 8

2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploadsNebraska20Economic20Insight20Outlook2018pdf10 NEworks Data Download Center High Wage High Skill and High Demand (H3) Occupations [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 8 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagov

gsipubindexaspdocid=1165

Occupation High Wage High Skill High Demand H3

Conservation Scientists amp Foresters P P X XEnvironmental Engineers P P P

Soil amp Plant Scientists P P P

Wind Turbine Service Technicians P P P

Zoologists amp Wildlife Biologists P P X X

APRIL 2019

Median hourly wages are shown in the chart below Both conservation scientists and foresters saw a 154 increase in their median wages between 2009 and 2018 Over the last ten years the median wage for environmental engineers grew by 192 while the median wage for soil and plant scientists was 191 higher in 2018 than in 2009 In the same time the statewide median wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists increased by 193 Wage information for wind turbine service technicians was not available for public release (6)

Green Jobsrsquo Wages

Chart Source Nebraska Department of Labor Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program (4th Quarter 2018) Conservation scientists and foresters are grouped together for many statistical purposes but separate wage data is available for both Wage data for wind turbine service technicians are not available for release due to the BLS confidentiality policy which assures respondents that published figures will not reveal their identity or allow it to be inferred To further protect confidentiality the specific screening criteria used to make such determinations are also withheld from public release

Median Hourly Wages for NE Green Jobs 2009 - 2018

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

TABLE OF CONTENTS 19

20

Every other year NDOL produces long-term (ten-year) projections for industries and occupations in Nebraska which are made available to the public on NEworks As shown by the graph below employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 85 or more for all five green jobs analyzed in this article between 2016 and 2026 For comparison overall employment for all occupa-tions statewide is expected to grow by 89 (7)

There were 265 conservation scientists and foresters in Nebraska in 2016 a number expected to grow to 294 by 2026 for a 109 increase The number of environmental engineers employed throughout the state is projected to increase from 383 in 2016 to 436 in 2026 growing by 138 over ten years For soil and plant scientists employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 123 from 879 in 2016 to 987 in 2026 (7)

Significant growth in employment of wind turbine service technicians is expected between 2016 and 2026 The number of Nebraskans employed in this occupation is expected to skyrocket by 908 during this time period from 120 to 229 In fact in terms of percent change wind turbine service technicians are projected to see faster employment growth in Nebraska than any other occupation from 2016 to 2026 (7)

Zoologists and wildlife biologists are expected to see the most modest increases of the five green occupations with a projected increase of 85 between 2016 and 2026 from 176 to 191 (7)

As renewable sources of energy become more advanced affordable and common in the United States there is likely to be increased demand for workers to create and maintain the infrastructure necessary to support these growing industries According to nationwide occupational projections from the BLS the two occupations expected to experience the fastest employment growth in the US from 2016 to 2026 are solar photovoltaic installers (who install and maintain the systems used to generate solar energy) and wind turbine service technicians which are projected to see increases of 1049 and 963 respectively In compari-son total nationwide employment is expected to increase by just 74 The rapid growth anticipated for these occupations means that solar photovoltaic installers are projected to add an astounding 11800 jobs nationally and wind turbine service technicians are projected to add another 5600 jobs over the next ten years (8)

The Future of Green Jobs 2016-2026 Projections

Employment in NE Green Jobs 2016-2026 (Projected)

Chart Source NE Department of Labor Long-Term Occupational Projections (July 2018)

2016 2026 (Projected)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 21

APRIL 2019

The Nebraska Department of Labor classifies and ranks occupations as ldquoH3rdquo (high wage high skill high demand) based on comparisons of typical wages skill and training requirements and the projected level of future labor market demand Because they offer a high probability that qualified workers will be able to secure employment and a competitive rate of pay H3 occupations are typically considered excellent career options (9)

Environmental engineers soil and plant scientists and wind turbine service technicians all qualified as H3 occupations in 2018 Each of these occupations is expected to have a large number of annual job openings through 2026 and each offers workers with the required skills the opportunity to earn a wage higher than the baseline for all occupations (10)

To be considered H3 an occupation must meet the criteria required for all three designations high wage high skill and high demand An occupation that misses the mark in any category would be excluded For example zoologists and wildlife biologists must be highly skilled and typically receive high pay but their work is too specialized to generate a high level of demand so they would not qualify as H3 Jobs that are not considered H3 are therefore not necessarily bad career pros-pects but job seekers looking for employment in these occupations may have a more difficult time finding open positions and may face a high level of competition from other qualified applicants

H3 High Wage High Skill High Demand

Green jobs are on the rise in Nebraska As people become increasingly environmentally conscious and green technology continues to evolve green jobs are expected to continue to cement their place in the statersquos economy With rapid employ-ment growth and competitive wages these occupations can offer significant benefits to workers as well as the planet

The Final Word

Sources1 Arbor Day Foundation The History of Arbor Day What is Arbor Day [Online] [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwarbordayorgcelebratehistorycfm2 Earth Day Network The History of Earth Day [Online] 2019 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwearthdayorgaboutthe-history-of-earth-day3 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Measuring Green Jobs The BLS Green Jobs Definition [Online] March 1 2013 httpswwwblsgovgreenhomehtmdefinition4 Occupational Outlook Handbook [Online] March 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwblsgovoohlife-physical-and-social-sciencezoologists-and-wildlife-biologists

htm httpswwwblsgovooh5 Nebraska Department of Labor Licensed Occupations in Nebraska Office of Labor Market Information [Online] 2015 [Cited March 19 2019] neworksnebraskagov

admingsipubhtmlareauploadsLicensed-Finalpdf6 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program Employment and Wage Estimates [Online] 4th

Quarter 2018 [Cited March 18 2019] neblswagesnwdnegov7 NEworks Data Download Center Long-Term Occupation Employment Projections [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindex

aspdocid=4338 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Occupational Projections Data [Online] February 8 2019 [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwblsgovempdata

occupational-datahtm9 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Nebraska Economic Insight amp Outlook Report H3 Occupations [Online] October 2018 [Cited March 8

2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploadsNebraska20Economic20Insight20Outlook2018pdf10 NEworks Data Download Center High Wage High Skill and High Demand (H3) Occupations [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 8 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagov

gsipubindexaspdocid=1165

Occupation High Wage High Skill High Demand H3

Conservation Scientists amp Foresters P P X XEnvironmental Engineers P P P

Soil amp Plant Scientists P P P

Wind Turbine Service Technicians P P P

Zoologists amp Wildlife Biologists P P X X

20

Every other year NDOL produces long-term (ten-year) projections for industries and occupations in Nebraska which are made available to the public on NEworks As shown by the graph below employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 85 or more for all five green jobs analyzed in this article between 2016 and 2026 For comparison overall employment for all occupa-tions statewide is expected to grow by 89 (7)

There were 265 conservation scientists and foresters in Nebraska in 2016 a number expected to grow to 294 by 2026 for a 109 increase The number of environmental engineers employed throughout the state is projected to increase from 383 in 2016 to 436 in 2026 growing by 138 over ten years For soil and plant scientists employment in Nebraska is projected to increase by 123 from 879 in 2016 to 987 in 2026 (7)

Significant growth in employment of wind turbine service technicians is expected between 2016 and 2026 The number of Nebraskans employed in this occupation is expected to skyrocket by 908 during this time period from 120 to 229 In fact in terms of percent change wind turbine service technicians are projected to see faster employment growth in Nebraska than any other occupation from 2016 to 2026 (7)

Zoologists and wildlife biologists are expected to see the most modest increases of the five green occupations with a projected increase of 85 between 2016 and 2026 from 176 to 191 (7)

As renewable sources of energy become more advanced affordable and common in the United States there is likely to be increased demand for workers to create and maintain the infrastructure necessary to support these growing industries According to nationwide occupational projections from the BLS the two occupations expected to experience the fastest employment growth in the US from 2016 to 2026 are solar photovoltaic installers (who install and maintain the systems used to generate solar energy) and wind turbine service technicians which are projected to see increases of 1049 and 963 respectively In compari-son total nationwide employment is expected to increase by just 74 The rapid growth anticipated for these occupations means that solar photovoltaic installers are projected to add an astounding 11800 jobs nationally and wind turbine service technicians are projected to add another 5600 jobs over the next ten years (8)

The Future of Green Jobs 2016-2026 Projections

Employment in NE Green Jobs 2016-2026 (Projected)

Chart Source NE Department of Labor Long-Term Occupational Projections (July 2018)

2016 2026 (Projected)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 21

APRIL 2019

The Nebraska Department of Labor classifies and ranks occupations as ldquoH3rdquo (high wage high skill high demand) based on comparisons of typical wages skill and training requirements and the projected level of future labor market demand Because they offer a high probability that qualified workers will be able to secure employment and a competitive rate of pay H3 occupations are typically considered excellent career options (9)

Environmental engineers soil and plant scientists and wind turbine service technicians all qualified as H3 occupations in 2018 Each of these occupations is expected to have a large number of annual job openings through 2026 and each offers workers with the required skills the opportunity to earn a wage higher than the baseline for all occupations (10)

To be considered H3 an occupation must meet the criteria required for all three designations high wage high skill and high demand An occupation that misses the mark in any category would be excluded For example zoologists and wildlife biologists must be highly skilled and typically receive high pay but their work is too specialized to generate a high level of demand so they would not qualify as H3 Jobs that are not considered H3 are therefore not necessarily bad career pros-pects but job seekers looking for employment in these occupations may have a more difficult time finding open positions and may face a high level of competition from other qualified applicants

H3 High Wage High Skill High Demand

Green jobs are on the rise in Nebraska As people become increasingly environmentally conscious and green technology continues to evolve green jobs are expected to continue to cement their place in the statersquos economy With rapid employ-ment growth and competitive wages these occupations can offer significant benefits to workers as well as the planet

The Final Word

Sources1 Arbor Day Foundation The History of Arbor Day What is Arbor Day [Online] [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwarbordayorgcelebratehistorycfm2 Earth Day Network The History of Earth Day [Online] 2019 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwearthdayorgaboutthe-history-of-earth-day3 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Measuring Green Jobs The BLS Green Jobs Definition [Online] March 1 2013 httpswwwblsgovgreenhomehtmdefinition4 Occupational Outlook Handbook [Online] March 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwblsgovoohlife-physical-and-social-sciencezoologists-and-wildlife-biologists

htm httpswwwblsgovooh5 Nebraska Department of Labor Licensed Occupations in Nebraska Office of Labor Market Information [Online] 2015 [Cited March 19 2019] neworksnebraskagov

admingsipubhtmlareauploadsLicensed-Finalpdf6 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program Employment and Wage Estimates [Online] 4th

Quarter 2018 [Cited March 18 2019] neblswagesnwdnegov7 NEworks Data Download Center Long-Term Occupation Employment Projections [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindex

aspdocid=4338 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Occupational Projections Data [Online] February 8 2019 [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwblsgovempdata

occupational-datahtm9 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Nebraska Economic Insight amp Outlook Report H3 Occupations [Online] October 2018 [Cited March 8

2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploadsNebraska20Economic20Insight20Outlook2018pdf10 NEworks Data Download Center High Wage High Skill and High Demand (H3) Occupations [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 8 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagov

gsipubindexaspdocid=1165

Occupation High Wage High Skill High Demand H3

Conservation Scientists amp Foresters P P X XEnvironmental Engineers P P P

Soil amp Plant Scientists P P P

Wind Turbine Service Technicians P P P

Zoologists amp Wildlife Biologists P P X X

TABLE OF CONTENTS 21

APRIL 2019

The Nebraska Department of Labor classifies and ranks occupations as ldquoH3rdquo (high wage high skill high demand) based on comparisons of typical wages skill and training requirements and the projected level of future labor market demand Because they offer a high probability that qualified workers will be able to secure employment and a competitive rate of pay H3 occupations are typically considered excellent career options (9)

Environmental engineers soil and plant scientists and wind turbine service technicians all qualified as H3 occupations in 2018 Each of these occupations is expected to have a large number of annual job openings through 2026 and each offers workers with the required skills the opportunity to earn a wage higher than the baseline for all occupations (10)

To be considered H3 an occupation must meet the criteria required for all three designations high wage high skill and high demand An occupation that misses the mark in any category would be excluded For example zoologists and wildlife biologists must be highly skilled and typically receive high pay but their work is too specialized to generate a high level of demand so they would not qualify as H3 Jobs that are not considered H3 are therefore not necessarily bad career pros-pects but job seekers looking for employment in these occupations may have a more difficult time finding open positions and may face a high level of competition from other qualified applicants

H3 High Wage High Skill High Demand

Green jobs are on the rise in Nebraska As people become increasingly environmentally conscious and green technology continues to evolve green jobs are expected to continue to cement their place in the statersquos economy With rapid employ-ment growth and competitive wages these occupations can offer significant benefits to workers as well as the planet

The Final Word

Sources1 Arbor Day Foundation The History of Arbor Day What is Arbor Day [Online] [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwarbordayorgcelebratehistorycfm2 Earth Day Network The History of Earth Day [Online] 2019 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwearthdayorgaboutthe-history-of-earth-day3 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Measuring Green Jobs The BLS Green Jobs Definition [Online] March 1 2013 httpswwwblsgovgreenhomehtmdefinition4 Occupational Outlook Handbook [Online] March 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpswwwblsgovoohlife-physical-and-social-sciencezoologists-and-wildlife-biologists

htm httpswwwblsgovooh5 Nebraska Department of Labor Licensed Occupations in Nebraska Office of Labor Market Information [Online] 2015 [Cited March 19 2019] neworksnebraskagov

admingsipubhtmlareauploadsLicensed-Finalpdf6 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Program Employment and Wage Estimates [Online] 4th

Quarter 2018 [Cited March 18 2019] neblswagesnwdnegov7 NEworks Data Download Center Long-Term Occupation Employment Projections [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 4 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovgsipubindex

aspdocid=4338 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Occupational Projections Data [Online] February 8 2019 [Cited March 8 2019] httpswwwblsgovempdata

occupational-datahtm9 Nebraska Department of Labor Office of Labor Market Information Nebraska Economic Insight amp Outlook Report H3 Occupations [Online] October 2018 [Cited March 8

2019] httpsneworksnebraskagovadmingsipubhtmlareauploadsNebraska20Economic20Insight20Outlook2018pdf10 NEworks Data Download Center High Wage High Skill and High Demand (H3) Occupations [Online] July 2018 [Cited March 8 2019] httpsneworksnebraskagov

gsipubindexaspdocid=1165

Occupation High Wage High Skill High Demand H3

Conservation Scientists amp Foresters P P X XEnvironmental Engineers P P P

Soil amp Plant Scientists P P P

Wind Turbine Service Technicians P P P

Zoologists amp Wildlife Biologists P P X X

22

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

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160

2004

-02

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-05

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-05

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-05

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-08

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-11

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-08

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-02

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-05

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-05

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-08

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-11

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-05

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-05

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-08

2014

-11

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-02

2015

-05

2015

-08

2015

-11

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-02

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-05

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-08

2016

-11

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-02

2017

-05

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-08

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-11

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-02

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-05

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-08

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-11

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-02

Dol

lars

per

Bar

rel

Crude Oil Prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI) ndash Cushing OK

[Source US Energy Information Administration Crude Oil Prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI) ndash Cushing Oklahoma Retrieved from FRED Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis (March 2019)]

Crude oil is ldquoa mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirsrdquo which ldquois refined to produce a wide array of petroleum products including heating oils gasoline diesel and jet fuelshellipand many other products used for their energy or chemical contentrdquo In 2017 US refineries ldquoproduced an average of about 20 gallons of motor gasoline and about 11 gallons of ultra-low sulfur distillate fuel oilrdquo most of which is sold as diesel fuel from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil (1 2)

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is one variety of crude oil produced in Texas and southern Oklahoma ldquowhich serves as a reference or lsquomarkerrsquo for pricingrdquo Its spot pricemdashldquothe price for a one-time open market transaction for immediate delivery of a specific quantity of product at a specific location where the commodity is purchased lsquoon the spotrsquo at current market ratesrdquomdashis taken from trades that occur in the domestic spot market in Cushing Oklahoma The Cushing spot price for WTI serves as a primary benchmark for oil pricing in the United States (1)

Crude oil prices can be influenced by a variety of factors As the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) explains ldquoprices can be affected by events that have the potential to disrupt the flow of oil and products to market including geopo-litical and weather-related developments These types of events may lead to actual disruptions or create uncertainty about future supply or demand which can lead to higher volatility in pricesrdquo (3)

Economic IndicatorsCrude Oil Prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI) ndash Cushing OKRachel Stevens Research Analyst

TABLE OF CONTENTS 23

APRIL 2019

Financial markets also play a role in influencing oil prices as ldquomarket participants not only buy and sell physical quantities of oil but also trade contracts for the future delivery of oil and other energy derivativesrdquo The relationship between crude oil and financial activities is complex influenced by a broad range of global factors and often takes place in portions of the market that are not fully transparent to outside observers As such ldquoanalysts continue to work to better understand the connections between these marketsrdquo (4)

In February 2019 WTI prices rose to $5495 per barrel a 69 increase from $5138 per barrel in January Price per barrel decreased on the year down from $6223 in February 2018 The highest recorded monthly average spot price for WTI was $13388 per barrel in June 2008 (5)

Sources1 US Energy Information Administration Petroleum amp Other Liquids Definitions Sources and Explanatory Notes [Online] [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweiagovdnav

petTblDefspet_pri_spt_tbldef2asp2 Frequently Asked Questions How many gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are made from one barrel of oil [Online] June 29 2018 [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweia

govtoolsfaqsfaqphpid=327ampt=103 What Drives Crude Oil Prices Spot Prices [Online] March 12 2019 [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweiagovfinancemarketscrudeoilspot_pricesphp4 What Drives Crude Oil Prices Financial Markets [Online] February 28 2019 [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweiagovfinancemarketscrudeoilfinancial_marketsphp5 Crude Oil Prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI) - Cushing Oklahoma [MCOILWTICO] Retrieved from FRED Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis [Online] March 13 2019

[Cited March 15 2019] httpsfredstlouisfedorgseriesMCOILWTICO

Image by anita_starzycka from Pexels

TABLE OF CONTENTS 23

APRIL 2019

Financial markets also play a role in influencing oil prices as ldquomarket participants not only buy and sell physical quantities of oil but also trade contracts for the future delivery of oil and other energy derivativesrdquo The relationship between crude oil and financial activities is complex influenced by a broad range of global factors and often takes place in portions of the market that are not fully transparent to outside observers As such ldquoanalysts continue to work to better understand the connections between these marketsrdquo (4)

In February 2019 WTI prices rose to $5495 per barrel a 69 increase from $5138 per barrel in January Price per barrel decreased on the year down from $6223 in February 2018 The highest recorded monthly average spot price for WTI was $13388 per barrel in June 2008 (5)

Sources1 US Energy Information Administration Petroleum amp Other Liquids Definitions Sources and Explanatory Notes [Online] [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweiagovdnav

petTblDefspet_pri_spt_tbldef2asp2 Frequently Asked Questions How many gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are made from one barrel of oil [Online] June 29 2018 [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweia

govtoolsfaqsfaqphpid=327ampt=103 What Drives Crude Oil Prices Spot Prices [Online] March 12 2019 [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweiagovfinancemarketscrudeoilspot_pricesphp4 What Drives Crude Oil Prices Financial Markets [Online] February 28 2019 [Cited March 15 2019] httpswwweiagovfinancemarketscrudeoilfinancial_marketsphp5 Crude Oil Prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI) - Cushing Oklahoma [MCOILWTICO] Retrieved from FRED Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis [Online] March 13 2019

[Cited March 15 2019] httpsfredstlouisfedorgseriesMCOILWTICO

Image by anita_starzycka from Pexels

24

Change Over Last QuarterMonthMetric Current Time

PeriodUnited States

Midwest Region

Nebraska

Average Weekly Manufacturing Hours February 2019 -02 -12

Initial Unemployment Claims February 2019 +50 -303

Value of Manufacturers New Orders for Consumer Goods December 2018 -10

ISM Manufacturing New Orders Indexcopy February 2019 -46

Value of Manufacturers New Orders Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft December 2018 +08

SampP 500copy February 2019 +57

10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus Federal Funds Rate February 2019 +03

University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index February 2019 +29

Consumer Price Index not seasonally adjusted February 2019 +04 +07

Employment Cost Index 4th Quarter 2018 +07

Producer Price Index All Commodities February 2019 +01

Unemployment Rate seasonally adjusted January 2019 +01 +-00 +-00

Real GDP billions of chained 2009 dollars 4th Quarter 2018 +26

Net Taxable Sales December 2018 +152

Barrel of Crude Oil WTI-Cushing Spot Price February 2019 +$357

Current Account Balance (millions of dollars) 3rd Quarter 2018 +230

Leading Economic Index December 2018 +27 +09

State-level data release schedule lags national data by one month January 2019 data for Nebraska reflects activity from December 2018

Sources1 Bureau of Labor Statistics Customized Tables State and Area Employment Hours and Earnings Bureau of Labor Statistics [Online] httpdatablsgovcgi-bindsrvsm2 US Employment and Training Administration Initial Claims Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesICNSA3 Initial Claims in Nebraska Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesNEICLAIMS4 US Bureau of the Census Value of Manufacturers New Orders for Consumer Goods Industries Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorg

fred2seriesACOGNO5 Institute for Supply Management ISM Manufacturing New Orders Indexcopy Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesNAPMNOI6 US Bureau of the Census Manufacturers New Orders Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfed

orgfred2seriesNEWORDER7 SampP Dow Jones Indicies LLC SampP 500copy Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesSP5008 Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Leading Index for the United States Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesUSSLIND9 Leading Index for Nebraska Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesNESLIND10 Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus Federal Funds Rate [Online] httpsresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesT10YFF11 Survey Research Center University of Michigan Survey of Consumers University of Michigan [Online] httpwwwpressscaisrumichedupresspress_release12 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers All Items Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2series

CPIAUCNS13 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers All items in Midwest urban Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2series

CUUR0200SA014 Employment Cost Index Customized Tables [Online] httpdatablsgovcgi-bindsrvci15 Producer Price Index for All Commodities Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesPPIACO16 Civilian Unemployment Rate Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesUNRATE17 Unemployment Rate in Midwest Census Region Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesCMWRUR18 Unemployment Rate in Nebraska Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2seriesNEUR19 US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis Real Gross Domestic Product Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearchstlouisfedorgfred2

seriesGDPC120 Nebraska Department of Revenue Non-Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Collections Nebraska Department of Revenue [Online] httpwwwrevenuenebraskagovresearch

net_taxable_salessales_182018_non-mvhtml21 US Energy Information Administration Crude Oil Prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI) - Cushing Oklahoma Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearch

stlouisfedorgfred2seriesMCOILWTICO22 US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis Balance of Payments on the Current Account Federal Reserve Economic Data [Online] httpresearch

stlouisfedorgfred2seriesIEABC

Nebraska Department of LaborLabor Market Information

550 S 16th StreetLincoln NE 68508

PHONE 800-876-1377lmi_nenebraskagov

Image by Candiix from Pexels