The Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce and Industry today outlined its priorities for 2023. Bryan Sloan, the organization’s president, discussed the numerous challenges facing the state’s business sector and economy and the various legislation the Chamber supports this session. Ultimately, Sloan pointed toward modernizing taxes, addressing the state’s workforce, and driving innovation as the Chamber’s main goals for the year.
The Chamber of Commerce has no part in the legislature of taxes, but it does support various bills being discussed that are in line with this mindset. Sloan added that the governor’s proposed tax cuts are being well received.
“Overall,” said Sloan, “the proposals are being received very favorably across the state. Clearly, a priority in this is to build school funding. At the same time, we’re building a much more competitive state from a tax standpoint.”
The next priority for the year is to address the state’s workforce. Sloan said that Nebraska’s declining birthrate is a problem, and retiring Boomers aren’t being replaced.
“In 1960, we had 34,000 births in Nebraska,” said Sloan. “We had 26,000 in 2015.
“This workforce shortage that we have now is not a temporary shortage. It simply means that each year, we need to be recruiting thousands of people to Nebraska just to fill the people who are exiting the job market at this point.”
A declining birthrate and ongoing struggle to fill the workforce relates directly to the next priority: driving innovation. This year, the Chamber will begin seeking more efficient processes with technology.
In terms of technical innovation, Nebraska has recently ranked in the 30s and 40s among the 50 states. Sloan said the aim is to put Nebraska in the top 10.
“What you’ll be seeing a lot from us over this year and next year is continuing to support our core industries, whether it’s agriculture and precision farming, or manufacturing 4.0, or banking, insurance, and development of fintech.
“This next generation goes where technology jobs are, and the future of our industries are very much in the technology element of those industries.”
See the Chamber of Commerce website for more information on the organization’s priorities in 2023.