Youth survey indicates preference for small communities, hometown

    Youths in Greater Nebraska remain committed to small communities, but there is work to be done in showing them they can have the future they want in their hometowns, according to Nebraska Community Foundation’s new 2022 Youth Survey.
     Nebraska Community Foundation, in partnership with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research and local school districts, surveyed 715 middle and high school students between January and May 2022.
    Participating communities included Bertrand, Butler County, Columbus, Howells and Stuart.
     Building on a trend from previous surveys, respondents expressed a strong preference for small communities.
    Only 4% said they would like to live in a community larger than any in Nebraska.
    Safety, good schools and proximity to family continue to be the top characteristics of their ideal community, and the vast majority—71%—said there is no stigma associated with returning to your hometown as an adult.
     Though Nebraska youths seem to not see social downsides to returning home, results suggest they are susceptible to misconceptions about a lack of career or professional upsides to living in Greater Nebraska.
     Healthcare (22%), agriculture (14%) and education (8%) represented the top three most desirable industries among respondents, but there seems to be a disconnect between what they want to do and what they perceive to be available where they live.
    Of student respondents, 48% said if they were to not live in their community as an adult the main reason would be job or business opportunities elsewhere.
     “Many of the industries students are pursuing have job openings in their communities,” said Dr. Josie Gatti Schafer with CPAR.
    “And industries that are hiring the most are industries Greater Nebraska youths have shown interest in, including healthcare, education and recreation.”
     This year’s respondents included 149 students of color, or 24% of the sample.
    Compared to white students, students of color were more likely to plan to work directly after high school, they wanted more organizations to engage with in their community and were less likely to want to live in the area they live now as an adult. In addition, they reported seeing unfair treatment at slightly higher rates than the white peers.
     “With diversity increasing, outreach and inclusion is critical to population sustainability and growth in Greater Nebraska,” Schafer said.
    “The variation in response across demographic groups suggests some work is to be done to ensure inclusion and that everyone feels connected to their hometown,” she said.
    The results of the youth survey begin to reveal the priorities, values, concerns and desires of these individuals as well as factors that may influence their decision to return to or remain in Greater Nebraska in the future.
    The hope is that this data may serve as a resource for NCF’s network of 1,500 community volunteers as well as other organizations and entities that share an interest in people attraction.
    For more information on the 2022 Nebraska Youth Survey, visit www.NebraskaHome town.org.