One area that concerns almost every employer in Central Nebraska is the available pool of workers. Local businesses and manufacturers are able to compete internationally with good products, prices and delivery. The only thing holding them back may be an increasing difficulty in attracting enough skilled workers to allow expansion and new lines of products.

Employers are finding it hard to hire enough engineers, manufacturing help, welders, health care staff, accountants and construction workers. School districts are facing shortages of teachers and hospitals are clamoring for more nurses and medical technicians. Even service sector staffing can be difficult. In Grand Island alone, officials have said there is a backlog of 900 jobs unfilled in the area.

All of this points to a looming crisis for Nebraska. Smaller communities across the state struggle to keep the towns alive and their schools viable, but when they can't attract workers for the local businesses, it can be the beginning of the end.

The work ethic of midlands' employees is well-earned. The problem is that isn't enough of these valued employees.

The effort to thwart the declining workforce is focused on two areas: Education/training and recruiting.

Central Community College has an outstanding curriculum for many of these specialties. CCC has customized programs in collaboration with area employers to graduate trained specialists that are gobbled up immediately by the private sector. A graduate of CCC can be employed almost the day they graduate. They often have their pick of good jobs in the area. The same with other community and tech schools in the state. An effort to expose high school students to interesting manufacturing sector careers is beginning to pay off, but there is still a long way to go.

In the past, many graduates of Nebraska universities, colleges and tech schools have left the state immediately after graduation to work in other states. There has been some attempt to recruit those former residents back to Nebraska, but once they start families and get established in other communities, it is hard to recruit them back.

At the EDC event, businessman Tony Raimondo talked at length about the DreamIt! Do it! Program that helps parents and students understand career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. According to Raimondo, Columbus has been successful implementing this program. Area businesses and the local chambers of commerce may be wise to investigate the benefits of this program in retaining the talent of its college bound students.

It is important to convince young students that they can be successful if they stay in the area when they enter their designated career field. Grand Island was recently named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The future of the region requires keeping more talented local students in the area after they complete their studies.