As US adds 270,000 jobs, Nebraska students are preparing to meet the demand

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The U.S. economy added more than 270,000 jobs last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Many of those were in areas like education and health care, where Nebraska has seen shortages.

Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said the steady growth in those fields means more job security.

“They’re also big industries, so when they’re growing in terms of employment, that means a lot of new jobs are available,” he said. “Our whole population, especially seniors, need the services of health care.”

Thompson said despite the increase in jobs, the labor force has is about the same size as before the pandemic.

That’s why many students at Southeast Community College are preparing for jobs in health care.

Jill Sand, dean of health sciences, said some of the most popular programs are nursing, surgical technology and dental assistance.

“We have a lot of positions open and a lot of need, and a variety of places students can work when they do graduate,” she said. “Right now, the market is in the students’ favor. They can kind of pick and choose where they want to work.”

Sand said it’s especially important to fill jobs in rural Nebraska, so people don’t have to travel far to get the health care they need.

“Health care is a really rewarding career, and it’s neat when we can see students go out and work in a profession and make an impact,” she said.