PERCEPTIONS OF WELL-BEING AMONG NON-METROPOLITAN 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.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Released December 5, 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI), designed to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, is increasingly impacting daily life. However, many people are still learning about it and are unsure of the impacts it may have. Some have concerns but others are optimistic about its uses. How many rural Nebraskans have used AI tools? How informed are they about it and how much trust or confidence do they have that it is used in the best interest of the public? What types of impacts do they think artificial intelligence will have in the future on various items? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions.
HOUSING
Released December 12, 2024
Lack of affordable and quality housing in a community can impact its ability to attract new residents and needed workforce. In addition, retirees and young families desire different styles of housing. Given these challenges, what housing programs or priorities do rural Nebraskans support? How do they rate various housing characteristics in their community? What are their general perceptions of housing in their community? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions.