PERCEPTIONS OF WELL-BEING AMONG NON-METRPOLITAN NEBRASKANS
Released September 5, 2024
The past year continued to be challenging for rural Nebraskans. Inflation continues to impact household budgets, particularly housing costs. Low unemployment, in part due to labor shortages, helped raise wages for workers but businesses struggle to fill openings which hampers economic growth. Lower agricultural commodity prices have pointed to a projected decline in farm iwncome. Given these challenges and opportunities, how do rural Nebraskans believe they are doing and how do they view their future? How satisfied are they with various items that influence their well-being? Have these views changed over the past 29 years? How do they view their mental health and do they experience feelings of loneliness? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 1,010 responses to the 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 29th annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about their well-being.
CIVIL DISCOURSE AMONG RURAL NEBRASKANS
Released October 2, 2024
Political discussions have grown more bitter and polarized in the past decade. How serious a problem do rural Nebraskans feel a lack of civil discourse is? Have they experienced political divisions between friends or family members? How do they feel both federal and statewide elections and media coverage of them contribute to political divisions? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 1,010 responses to the 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 29th annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions.
ECONOMY AND TRADE POLICY
Released November 1, 2024
Concerns about inflation have influenced ratings of the economy in national surveys. How concerned are rural Nebraskans about various economic issues? International trade is an important part of the economy in Nebraska. What impacts do rural Nebraskans believe it has on the state as well as their own household? What items do they think are important to consider when determining US trade policy? This report provides a detailed analysis of these questions.
