Nebraska News
For years Nebraska has suffered a brain drain, a term used to signify that more people with college diplomas were leaving the state than migrating into the state. Well, that all changed in 2009 when things reversed and the state suddenly had more college graduates move into the state than leave it. The reversal was quite significant. A brain drain turned into a brain gain.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 1,600 more college graduates moved into the state than moved out. But it wasn't just college graduates. Overall, around 10,000 more people migrated into the state than left during 2009. For its size, Nebraska's net in-migration from other states in 2009 was the 10th-highest in the nation.
Some of the factors contributing to this brain gain and in-migration increase include the fact that Nebraska's unemployment rate is around half that of the nation overall. In addition to a relatively strong economy, the state's education system is strong and the quality of life is getting better. Of course, the state's economy was strong between 1995 and 2000 also but during those years the state lost 4,000 college graduates and 15,000 people overall. As late as 2006 the state lost 3,000 college graduates and 6,000 people overall.
But as the national recession started in 2007, the numbers started to turn around, finally becoming positive in 2009. As the "Great Recession" worsened across the nation, Nebraska has benefitted by developing a brain gain. Experts predict this brain gain will continue for at least a few years but they also predict that when the national economy improves that Nebraska will return to a brain drain.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 1,600 more college graduates moved into the state than moved out. But it wasn't just college graduates. Overall, around 10,000 more people migrated into the state than left during 2009. For its size, Nebraska's net in-migration from other states in 2009 was the 10th-highest in the nation.
Some of the factors contributing to this brain gain and in-migration increase include the fact that Nebraska's unemployment rate is around half that of the nation overall. In addition to a relatively strong economy, the state's education system is strong and the quality of life is getting better. Of course, the state's economy was strong between 1995 and 2000 also but during those years the state lost 4,000 college graduates and 15,000 people overall. As late as 2006 the state lost 3,000 college graduates and 6,000 people overall.
But as the national recession started in 2007, the numbers started to turn around, finally becoming positive in 2009. As the "Great Recession" worsened across the nation, Nebraska has benefitted by developing a brain gain. Experts predict this brain gain will continue for at least a few years but they also predict that when the national economy improves that Nebraska will return to a brain drain.
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