Why This Matters
A winning city.
Four fixable gaps.
Omaha’s data is better than its story. Recent research benchmarked Omaha against Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Phoenix. The primary factors inhibiting net population growth are density of employment opportunity, wages, and a neutral perception of Omaha — all of them employer-controlled. The city already performs. The business community has to prove it.
Where Omaha already wins
- Ties Dallas for first on the composite score of six peer metros
- Lowest home values and shortest commutes of the six
- Strongest childcare access and best K–12 of the six
- Best living wage of the group once cost of living is counted
Small & Medium Acknowledge
- Sixth of six on wages — what talent named as most important
- Nearly half cannot see a path to advancement here
- 47% are open to leaving, shorter-tenured workers most of all
- Perception of Omaha is neutral
#1
Tied with Dallas on the composite score of six peer metros
Contrary to the assumption that Omaha loses residents because it underperforms, Omaha ties Dallas for the highest combined score across the economic and social characteristics talent says matter most. Omaha leads on home values, commuting times, childcare access, and K–12 quality — and has the best living wage of the group once cost of living is counted.
6 of 6
on wages — what talent named most important
Omaha ranks last of the six peer metros on wages, the single factor talent named most important. Density of employment opportunity and wages are the primary factors inhibiting net population growth — and both sit inside employer control.
6 of 6
on wages — what talent named most important
Omaha ranks last of the six peer metros on wages, the single factor talent named most important. Density of employment opportunity and wages are the primary factors inhibiting net population growth — and both sit inside employer control.
Neutral
perception of Omaha among the talent we need
Omaha’s barrier is awareness, not opportunity. The research found overall perception of the city is neutral — people simply do not know the story. Employers are the first and most trusted source a candidate has, which makes promotion of the region an employer-controlled variable too.
