OMAHA —Nebraska business and civic leaders are sounding the alarm over “brain drain” as Omaha’s job and talent growth lags behind peer cities.

City officials and researchers at a recent Omaha forum highlighted concerns that more than half of the state’s out-migration of educated workers originates in the Omaha metro, with tens of thousands of degree-holders leaving since 2019. Efforts to better understand and counter this trend are underway, including public surveys and input for the city’s new 20-year comprehensive plan. Leaders and attendees pointed to the need for higher-paying jobs, affordable housing, improved transit, inclusive community spaces, and responsive political leadership to retain and attract talent.

Local business organizations like the Greater Omaha Chamber and the Aksarben Foundation are backing deeper studies and initiatives, noting that the region has lagged peers in job creation, wage growth, and investment—a dynamic tied to the broader “brain drain” issue. The discussions reflect growing urgency to develop strategies that strengthen the metro’s economic competitiveness and keep skilled workers from leaving Nebraska.

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