The COVID-19 pandemic hit Omaha hard, putting some Nebraskans out of work and others in positions to work through unsafe labor situations. Now almost three years later, as the economy has started recovering, data shows Omahans appear to be returning to work slowly but surely.
Nebraska is dealing with a tight labor market, meaning while jobs are available, there’s not enough people to fill them – the unemployment rate is still one of the lowest in the nation. And in South Omaha, many who are working aren’t paid enough to support themselves and their families. According to a report from the College of Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 13% of those in South Omaha who are employed live in poverty, and 5% of those working full-time jobs are in poverty.
According to reporting from The Reader, Chris Decker, an economist at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said a major factor in how Omaha’s economy has recovered is the decision by workers to upskill. Upskilling is the practice of learning additional skills, either in an existing or a new career path.
Between 2010 and 2018, the number of H3 jobs making up Nebraska’s total employment increased by 36,306, which is a 1.2% gain from previous years, according to data Decker shared with The Reader.
During 2020 to 2021, “a lot of people with low-paying jobs were suffering an immediate hit and saying that was as good a time as any to go back to school and look for a different career path post-pandemic,” Decker told The Reader in August.
Improving your skills or going to school can open doors to better wages and jobs, including what the industry classifies as “H3 jobs” — positions that are high wage, high skill and high demand.
The Nebraska Department of Labor puts out a projection report for H3 jobs in the Omaha area. The Greater Omaha Chamber, which connects businesses and professionals in the area, sorted the jobs in this report by jobs with the most annual openings.
Here are the top ten jobs that are high wage, high skill and high demand right now:
- Truck Drivers
- Registered Nurses
- General and Operations Managers
- Accountants and Auditors
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Software Developers, Applications
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other
- Human Resources Specialists
Whether you’re looking for a new job or want to improve your skills for your current role, nonprofits and colleges in Omaha have plenty of training opportunities for high skill, high wage and high demand positions. Here’s where to start:
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Roadmaster Drivers School in Omaha, 10008 Sapp Bros Drive, provides hands-on training to receive a Class A CDL license, the type of commercial driver’s license required to drive as a professional truck driver. According to the website, it takes about a month to graduate from a CDl training school like Roadmaster.
Training with a school has its perks – truck driving schools may offer financial help to cover the cost of tuition, and some trucking employers offer tuition reimbursement if you’re a student. Learn more at roadmaster.com or call Roadmaster Drivers School of Omaha at (402) 932-0000
Registered Nurses
If you want to become a registered nurse, you first have to find an entry-level training program that will prepare you for the NCLEX licensing exam to get your first professional nursing job.
Students in the Omaha area have the choice of Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs as well as Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. Obtaining a BSN gives you a more in-depth nursing education, but it takes about four years to complete. ADN programs generally take around two years to complete, and can be found at community colleges, vocational schools and some colleges and medical centers.
Metropolitan Community College offers an ADN program that is designed to be completed in two years. Coursework includes chemistry, anatomy and physiology, family nursing, medical assessment, and therapeutic interventions. To learn more about this program, visit www.mccneb.edu or call the college at (531) 622-2400.
Nebraska Methodist College offers a four-year BSN program, as well as an accelerated BSN program for students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject that can be completed in just 15 months. Learn more about Nebraska Accelerated BSN Programs by visiting the website at www.methodistcollege.edu or call (402) 354-7000.
General and Operations Managers
If you’re interested in being a leader and helping guide a business, then a job in operations management may be good for you. Metropolitan Community College offers an Operations Management Specialization certificate program. To learn more, reach out at the MCC Fort Omaha Campus to DeLores Allison at (531) 622-3842 or email diallison@mccneb.edu.
Carpenters
Carpentry is one of the high skill, high wage, high demand jobs with opportunities in Omaha right now. Luckily, there’s training programs that can help you work towards earning credentials to work in the field. Metropolitan Community College has Carpentry classes to achieve a career certificate.
If you’re looking to specialize as a carpenter, millwright, floor coverer, pile driver, or cabinet maker, the Carpenters Training Institute can help you get the on-the-job training you need to succeed. Located at 10761 Virginia Plaza in Papillion, the organization will help connect interested students with apprenticeships in the industry. To learn more, contact Rosa Santamaria over email at rsantamaria@carpenterstraininginstitute.org or call (402) 345-8658.
GED classes in Douglas County
Earning the GED, or General Educational Development Test, can be a stepping stone to better jobs, wages and higher education opportunities. Here’s where you can enroll:
- Metro Community College
2902 Edward Babe Gomez Ave., www.mccneb.edu
At MCC, the GED classes and tests are all in English, and Spanish-speakers are encouraged to enroll in English classes ahead of the GED. Students may be placed into a class that works with their schedule or is of their skill level depending on how many years of education they had previously. Call (531) 622 4060 to learn more about classes at MCC.
- Learning Community Center of South Omaha
1612 N. 24th Street, www.learningcommunityds.org
Online and in-person GED classes are offered through the Learning Community Center. Call (402) 964 2405 to learn more about programs offered at the Learning Community Center of South Omaha.
- Latino Center of the Midlands
4821 South 24th St., www.latinocenter.org
The Latino Center of the Midlands offers GED classes in Spanish along with a wide variety of adult education programming. Call (402) 733 6720 to learn more about programs.