Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System

10/21/2026

How do high school career pathways connect to Nebraska’s future healthcare workforce?

A new special report from NSWERS and the Nebraska Department of Education examines how participation in Health Sciences Career and Technical Education (CTE) relates to students’ educational and workforce outcomes after high school.

By connecting K–12, postsecondary, and workforce data, researchers followed more than 100,000 Nebraska public high school graduates to better understand their pathways up to six years after graduation.

Key findings show that students who concentrated in Health Sciences CTE were more likely to:
• Pursue health-related postsecondary degrees.
• Enter Nebraska’s healthcare workforce.
• Earn higher wages.

As Nebraska continues to face demand for healthcare professionals, these findings offer valuable statewide evidence to inform conversations about career preparation, postsecondary pathways, and workforce development.

Explore the special report, The Effects of Health Sciences CTE Concentration on Educational and Workforce Outcomes in Nebraska: https://insights.nswers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Health-Sciences-CTE-2026-V1.pdf.

10/15/2026

What happens to Nebraska students during and after college, and what can we learn from their journeys?

On episode three of The NSWERS Podcast, Dr. Paul Turman, Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, joins NSWERS Executive Director Matt Hastings to discuss the importance of trusted statewide partnerships and how connected education and workforce data can inform higher education strategy and decision making. From student retention and internships to rural pathways, they explore how a better understanding of students’ experiences can help Nebraska plan for the future.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2651040/episodes/19883387.

10/09/2026

How can higher education meet students where they are, especially in rural Nebraska?

In the second episode of The NSWERS Podcast, Dr. Leah Barrett, president of Northeast Community College, joins NSWERS Executive Director Dr. Matt Hastings to discuss how colleges can connect students with education and career opportunities close to home.

🎙️ In this episode, they explore:
• Bringing higher education to rural communities
• Connecting education and work through apprenticeships and flexible programs
• Using employer feedback to understand changing workforce needs
• Expanding opportunities through dual enrollment
• Using student outcomes and connected data to evaluate programs, investments, and student support

🔗 Listen to episode 2 of The NSWERS Podcast to hear how data and collaboration can help higher education better serve Nebraska students and communities: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2651040/episodes/19883300.

10/02/2026

We’re excited to introduce the NSWERS Podcast, a new series featuring conversations with Nebraska leaders who are helping shape the future of education and the workforce.

Our inaugural episode features Dr. Brian Maher, Nebraska Commissioner of Education and president of the NSWERS Executive Council, in conversation with NSWERS Executive Director Dr. Matt Hastings.

Together, they explore what student success looks like beyond the classroom, and how connected education and workforce information can help us better understand the paths Nebraska students take after high school.

🎧 Listen to the first episode of the NSWERS Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2651040/episodes/19883182

09/18/2026

NEW DATA BRIEF | Ongoing Workforce Retention in Nebraska

Workforce retention isn’t always a one-time outcome. Graduates’ connections to Nebraska’s workforce can change in the years after they leave college.

NSWERS’ new Ongoing Workforce Retention Brief follows Nebraska public postsecondary graduates for up to eight years after their initial retention classification. The analysis examines whether graduates maintain, lose, gain, or regain attachment to Nebraska’s observed workforce over time.

By looking beyond a single point in time, the brief provides a more complete picture of how Nebraska graduates connect to the state’s workforce in the years following college.

Explore the new brief: https://insights.nswers.org/briefs/2026-ongoing-workforce-retention-brief/.

08/12/2026

What happens when a state has one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates but employers still can’t find enough workers with the skills they need?

Our new interactive story, “Bridging Nebraska’s Employment Gap,” explores this paradox and takes a closer look at the disconnect between job demand and available talent across Nebraska.

Each year, Nebraska needs nearly 1,800 teachers and more than 1,500 registered nurses, yet only about half of those roles are filled. The gaps are even larger in fields like accounting, auditing, and software development.

So, how can Nebraska bridge the gap?

The story explores potential pathways, including expanding enrollment in high-demand programs, improving postsecondary persistence and completion, and strengthening graduate retention and in-state employment.

Explore the full scrollytelling experience from NSWERS:

https://insights.nswers.org/stories/bridging-nebraskas-employment-gap/.

07/13/2026

This week, the inaugural cohort of the Nebraska Strategic Data Leadership Network Fellowship is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for their second in-person workshop with the Strategic Data Project (SDP) at Harvard University.

Throughout the week, fellows from Nebraska's public colleges, universities, and state agencies are strengthening their skills in strategic data leadership while advancing projects that will help their organizations make better, evidence-informed decisions. Through hands-on learning, collaboration with peers, and guidance from SDP faculty, participants are building the capacity to turn data into meaningful action.

This fellowship is about more than technical expertise. It is about creating a statewide community of leaders who can use data to improve student success, strengthen institutions, and support Nebraska's workforce for years to come.

We're excited to see the ideas, partnerships, and momentum that continue to grow as this cohort learns together.

06/04/2026

New NSWERS evaluation findings show that the Nebraska Math Readiness Project (NMRP) is making a measurable difference in students' college success.

Conducted in partnership with Metropolitan Community College, our newest study found that students who participated in NMRP were more likely to enroll in college, complete credit-bearing math courses, persist in their studies, and graduate compared to similar students who did not participate.

Key findings include:
✔️ +12 percentage points in college enrollment
✔️ +28 percentage points in completing a for-credit college math course
✔️ +7 percentage points in college graduation
✔️ Reduced enrollment in remedial math courses
✔️ Higher college GPAs and persistence rates

The results highlight how targeted math interventions during high school can strengthen college readiness and improve long-term educational outcomes for Nebraska students.

Read the full report: https://insights.nswers.org/evaluations/nmrpmcc2026.

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04/15/2026

The Strategic Data Project (SDP), in collaboration with the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS), is thrilled to welcome the inaugural cohort of fellows for the SDP Nebraska Strategic Data Leadership Network! This talented cohort includes 27 fellows representing Nebraska’s public and tribal postsecondary institutions, including Nebraska’s six community colleges, the Nebraska State College System, the University of Nebraska System, and Little Priest Tribal College.

Check out our news release for more info:

Cambridge, MA – The Strategic Data Project (SDP), an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, in collaboration with the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS), is pleased to announce the selection of the inaugural cohort of fellows...

04/01/2026

🚨 Now Hiring: Communications Intern

Want to turn complex data into clear, compelling stories? Join the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System and help shape how Nebraska understands education + workforce trends.

✨ What you’ll do:
• Create content that makes data accessible
• Support storytelling across digital platforms
• Collaborate with a mission-driven team
• Build real-world communications experience

This is your chance to work at the intersection of data, storytelling, and impact—supporting smarter decisions for Nebraska’s future.

🔗 Apply here: https://jobs.nebraska.edu/UniversityNebraskaSystem/job/Communications-Intern%2C-NSWERS/2222-en_US/?st=53A3E3C8B572656BA44E03998C008B46D1A6A28C