Doug Loon presenting at the 2016 MACE Annual Conference

1. Panel Discussion:
Chamber Workforce
Practices

2. Businesses Remain Optimistic
 U.S. dollar slowly becoming
more competitive
 Wholesale prices at highest
level since last June
 Exports began increasing in
April

3. Regional Economic Outlook
 Manufacturers in region shed jobs even as the overall regional economy
adds jobs
– Creighton University Mid-American States Survey*
 Tight labor supplies and slow labor force growth constricting
employment gains
– 9th
District Federal Reserve Business Survey**
 Respondents identified finding workers as their #1 challenge
- 9th District Federal Reserve Business Survey
*States included in survey: AR, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD
** States included in survey: MI, MN, MT, ND, SD, WI

4. Lowest Unemployment Rates in U.S.
Rank State Unemployment Rate
1 South Dakota 2.5%
2 New Hampshire 2.6%
3 Colorado 2.9%
4 Nebraska 3%
5 Hawaii 3.1%
5 North Dakota 3.1%
7 Vermont 3.3%
8 Maine 3.4%
9 Utah 3.5%
10 Minnesota 3.7%
11 Idaho 3.8%
11 Iowa 3.8%
Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2016

5. Highest Labor Force Participation in U.S.
Rank State and area Labor Force Participation Rate
1 North Dakota 71.0%
2 Minnesota 70.2 %
3 District of Columbia 70.1%
4 Nebraska 70.1%
5 Iowa 69.9%
6 South Dakota 69.4%
7 New Hampshire 68.4%
8 Utah 68.1%
9 Wisconsin 68.0%
10 Kansas 67.9%
Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2016

6. Job Growth Outpacing Labor Force
* Nebraska labor force projections: 2010-2020

7. Job Growth Outpacing Labor Force
* Nebraska labor force projections: 2010-2020