July 06, 2006

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Many rural Nebraska households are piecing together a living with several jobs, with those in the most rural areas needing to be especially resourceful to make ends meet, according to the 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Given that Nebraska has historically had a low unemployment rate but also a per-capita income that ranks below the national average, the 11th annual University of Nebraska-Lincoln poll sought some answers about how rural Nebraskans are making a living.

Surveys were mailed in March to about 6,200 randomly selected households in Nebraska's 84 rural counties. Results are based on 2,482 responses.

Overall, rural Nebraska households have an average of 1.3 wage earners, the poll found. Twenty-five percent of households have no wage earner, 24 percent have one and 48 percent have two.

Rural Nebraska households with at least one wage earner have an average of two jobs that contribute to household income, the UNL poll shows. Twenty-seven percent of respondents' households have one job, and 55 percent have two.

Fourteen percent of rural Nebraska households have an individual that holds more than one job.

"The work ethic is alive and well in rural Nebraska. These people work hard," said Bruce Johnson, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources agricultural economist who works on the poll.

"What they're doing is wiring together all kinds of efforts ... to get to a higher household income," he added.

Sixty percent of households with an individual that holds more than one job say it's necessary to pay for living essentials, and 37 percent say it's to make additional income for nonessential items.

"This is driven by a need to make ends meet, not to get rich," added Randy Cantrell, an IANR rural sociologist who also works on the poll.

A quest for employment benefits also is a factor – especially for farmers and ranchers, 22 percent of whom cited this reason for multiple jobs, the poll found.

The poll also found that households in or near smaller communities have a higher average number of jobs than those in larger communities. An average of 2.07 jobs per household in or near communities with populations less than 5,000 compares to an average of 1.92 jobs per household in communities with populations above 5,000.

Nebraskans in rural areas face other challenges. Those who do not work in their home or nearest community reported having to drive an average of 31 miles, one way, to their primary job, the poll showed.

Cantrell noted the poll also shows rural Nebraskans continue to look to improve their economic situation. Twenty-seven percent of households with at least one wage-earner have someone who is actively seeking a better paying job.

The Rural Poll is the largest annual poll of rural Nebraskans' perceptions on quality of life and policy issues. This year's response rate was about 40 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent. Complete results are available online at 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll.

The university's Center for Applied Rural Innovation conducts the poll in cooperation with the Rural Initiative and Public Policy Center with funding from the Partnership for Rural Nebraska and UNL Extension and the Agricultural Research Division in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

7/6/06-DM

Becky Vogt
Center for Applied Rural Innovation
Nebraska Rural Poll Project Manager
(402) 329-4821

Bruce Johnson - Ph.D.
Agricultural Economics
Professor
(402) 472-1794

Randy Cantrell - Ph.D.
Center for Applied Rural Innovation
Professor
(402) 472-1772

Dan Moser
IANR News & Photography Coordinator
(402) 472-3007

Department: Center for Applied Rural Innovation