Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is indeed a pleasure to welcome Brian Sloan back
to the program. You know Brian's name, I'm sure from
his years as head of the Greater Nebraska Chamber of Commerce.
Now back in private law practice and very heavily engaged
in public policy. Brian, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good to have you on, Hey, Gary, Thank you very much,
appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
You bet and Jim and I have been talking about this.
I know you are among business and policy leaders who
have some indigestion over the lack of numbers in our
workforce coming up and how immigration policy is affecting that,
and Jim and I have been discussing this back and
forth a lot this morning. You're advocating for policy reform,
(00:42):
as I am. What would be your prescription because we're
seeing a lot of people being deported now and you
say that's affecting our numbers.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, I would say, just as a background, very quickly,
for the last eight years, I've been tracking what the
work force needs are in this state. That means jobs
that we just simply can't fill because we don't have people.
And on any given day in the Brass over the
last eight years, there's been between thirty to fifty thousand
that leave jobs that we can't fill. If you go
(01:14):
to the Brass and Labor site right now, they would
say thirty thousand, but that's just what's online job site.
My own essment would be be closer about fifty thousand now.
But that's that's a big portion of our economy that
we're just leaving on the table. And so it's really
necessary that we not only take what we have now,
but bring another thirty to fifty thousand people into the
(01:36):
state to build this economy in our communities.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
You're not saying jobs that Americans won't do, which is
the old line. You're saying in terms of pure numbers,
we don't have the people.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
So you, yeah, we don't have people, and we have
to bust some of these myths. This myth has been
around for thirty forty years, a piece of people taking
American jobs. That might have been true in the sixties
early sixties, when you know my generation, the boomers, there
were lots of us and not enough jobs. It's the
opposite now and so and it's not just in low
(02:10):
income jobs. Nursing, for instance, is one of the medical
professionals are one of our biggest needs for people that
we just can't fill. But you know, you were just
talking to Misco about the construction that's going on in
Lincoln and Omaha. The construction industry is very much in
need of the labor At this point.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
When we look at the scenario in the state of Nebraska,
you are you are quickly hauled back to the chicken
and the egg theory, and that is, we can't have
jobs without people. But without people, nobody is going to
bring jobs in here. So how do we fix this?
You're a smart guy. How do we fix this?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Brian?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I mean, it's it's it's a it's an economic development issue,
it's a population shift issue. But how do you convince
businesses to locate here and then provide employees for them
or vice versa.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yeah, I think I think there's two pieces to that.
You know, I think we've already known the chicken and egg.
This isn't this isn't the first time in Nebraska's history
we've we've been through this, and and you know, I
don't think I don't I think we have to learn
from history. Things don't always change that much. This state
was built upon a labor shortage, which was the building
of the railroads and the building of our communities. We
(03:24):
simply did not have the people in Nebraska. And so
it's not a shock that we have a Czech capital
in Wilver, and a Swedish capital and an Irish capital,
and it was immigration that ultimately built the state and
brought these companies to the state. People now is one
of the number one resources that companies look at when
(03:46):
they look at where are we going to locate, where
we're going to invest, including our own Nebraska companies. And
so I think people comes first, along with a very
strong economic growth policy to attract the companies. And you've
got to do both. You've got to do both at.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
The thinking what about the Pew research numbers and nearly
emailed that it had some stats earlier. Seven point three
million unemployed in this country that are looking for work,
another six and a half million wanting a job but
not counted in the labor force. So you're talking about
fourteen to fifteen million people here who are available to work.
What about them? What's the policy to get them off
(04:25):
the couch and then a job.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah? Well, you know again, I think we've got to
be careful when we watch national news and take national data.
Most of it doesn't really reflect on Nebraska, which is
Nebrakas historically and continue to have very very low unemployment rates.
We don't have thousands and thousands sitting on the sidelines
in Nebraska. We also have continually some of the highest
(04:51):
worker participation rates. We have some of the highest people
working multiple jobs anywhere in the country. There simply aren't
people sitting on the sideline in Nebraska to the numbers
anywhere close above them.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
What would you what we're chatting with Brian sloan Air
for another man of Brian, what would you do with
folks who are here they came into the country without
documentation and they're gainfully employed, they're not breaking other laws,
but they have used someone else's ID. There are a
lot of people if they got a legitimate job and
they're not here illegally, they scam the system somewhere along
(05:28):
the line.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right, Well, I think, let me give you a couple
of data points really quickly. I think a lot of
people believe that the bulk of our of our unauthorized
population came in the last few years, and then that's
not true. I would estimate the official estimate it's forty
two thousand undocument books in Nebraska. My guess is it's
(05:51):
somewhat bigger than that. Let's just say fifty thousand, almost
two thirds of those that have been here for ten
years coul those have been employed, Many have started into
their own businesses, and they're great community participants. The vast
majority have been here for a long time, and I
think there's been bills in Congress, and I think it's
(06:12):
important that to think about. Is there a point and
I'm you know, you can argue citizenship. I'm just saying,
residency for work. If you've been here for ten to
twenty thirty years and you've been productive and you've been working,
we need to find a way to deal with that
and to work. Obviously, somebody needed to assolved security number
(06:33):
somewhere along the way. I think we need to have
a grown up conversation about that. I think sorting out
individual circumstances rather than making blanket statements is really important
because that is a big, big chunk os Macgrass's workforce,
particularly in agg manufacturing construction areas where we exceed.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
One more thing that is I think important to Nebraskans,
and that is what is the realism of recruiting businesses
to the state with their employees. Is that just a
pipe dream or does that really happen?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
No? Actually, doctor Josie Shaffer at u Ando's does really
nice work on this. Her data would pretty clearly indicate
that as you recruit businesses with jobs, employees will follow
those jobs. And there's no question and I think you
know from my Chamber of Commerce experience, Yoba Chamber, of
lincol Chamber and the chambers present the state are doing
a pretty good job of this. Of recruiting companies with
(07:37):
great paying jobs is key to recruiting sort of that
domestic population that Gary was talking about, how do we
bring people domestically in? And I think b bringing great
companies to the state is probably more essential now than
it was even twenty years.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
How are we doing on that front?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
We are not doing nearly as well as we should
that there are states which are very aggressive at at
this point. I certainly would take Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee as
examples we need. As I told him, I used to
tell the staff at the State Chamber, we don't have
to be perfect, but boy, we better try to be
(08:18):
better than forty nine other state, this is the future
for our grandchildren's children.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Yeah. A much longer conversation as needed. I got a
scoot for the moment, Brian, but thanks appreciate the time
as always.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So guys, I really appreciate you discussing the topic this morning.
I can't think of anything more important.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, and on where it goes too. That's Brian Sloan
It is indeed a pleasure to welcome Brian Sloan back
to the program. You know Brian's name, I'm sure from
his years as head of the Greater Nebraska Chamber of Commerce.
Now back in private law practice and very heavily engaged
in public policy. Brian, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good to have you on, Hey, Gary, Thank you very much,
appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
You bet and Jim and I have been talking about this.
I know you are among business and policy leaders who
have some indigestion over the lack of numbers in our
workforce coming up and how immigration policy is affecting that,
and Jim and I have been discussing this back and
forth a lot this morning. You're advocating for policy reform,
(00:42):
as I am. What would be your prescription because we're
seeing a lot of people being deported now and you
say that's affecting our numbers.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, I would say, just as a background, very quickly,
for the last eight years, I've been tracking what the
work force needs are in this state. That means jobs
that we just simply can't fill because we don't have people.
And on any given day in the Brass over the
last eight years, there's been between thirty to fifty thousand
that leave jobs that we can't fill. If you go
(01:14):
to the Brass and Labor site right now, they would
say thirty thousand, but that's just what's online job site.
My own essment would be be closer about fifty thousand now.
But that's that's a big portion of our economy that
we're just leaving on the table. And so it's really
necessary that we not only take what we have now,
but bring another thirty to fifty thousand people into the
(01:36):
state to build this economy in our communities.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
You're not saying jobs that Americans won't do, which is
the old line. You're saying in terms of pure numbers,
we don't have the people.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
So you, yeah, we don't have people, and we have
to bust some of these myths. This myth has been
around for thirty forty years, a piece of people taking
American jobs. That might have been true in the sixties
early sixties, when you know my generation, the boomers, there
were lots of us and not enough jobs. It's the
opposite now and so and it's not just in low
(02:10):
income jobs. Nursing, for instance, is one of the medical
professionals are one of our biggest needs for people that
we just can't fill. But you know, you were just
talking to Misco about the construction that's going on in
Lincoln and Omaha. The construction industry is very much in
need of the labor At this point.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
When we look at the scenario in the state of Nebraska,
you are you are quickly hauled back to the chicken
and the egg theory, and that is, we can't have
jobs without people. But without people, nobody is going to
bring jobs in here. So how do we fix this?
You're a smart guy. How do we fix this?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Brian?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I mean, it's it's it's a it's an economic development issue,
it's a population shift issue. But how do you convince
businesses to locate here and then provide employees for them
or vice versa.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yeah, I think I think there's two pieces to that.
You know, I think we've already known the chicken and egg.
This isn't this isn't the first time in Nebraska's history
we've we've been through this, and and you know, I
don't think I don't I think we have to learn
from history. Things don't always change that much. This state
was built upon a labor shortage, which was the building
of the railroads and the building of our communities. We
(03:24):
simply did not have the people in Nebraska. And so
it's not a shock that we have a Czech capital
in Wilver, and a Swedish capital and an Irish capital,
and it was immigration that ultimately built the state and
brought these companies to the state. People now is one
of the number one resources that companies look at when
(03:46):
they look at where are we going to locate, where
we're going to invest, including our own Nebraska companies. And
so I think people comes first, along with a very
strong economic growth policy to attract the companies. And you've
got to do both. You've got to do both at.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
The thinking what about the Pew research numbers and nearly
emailed that it had some stats earlier. Seven point three
million unemployed in this country that are looking for work,
another six and a half million wanting a job but
not counted in the labor force. So you're talking about
fourteen to fifteen million people here who are available to work.
What about them? What's the policy to get them off
(04:25):
the couch and then a job.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah? Well, you know again, I think we've got to
be careful when we watch national news and take national data.
Most of it doesn't really reflect on Nebraska, which is
Nebrakas historically and continue to have very very low unemployment rates.
We don't have thousands and thousands sitting on the sidelines
in Nebraska. We also have continually some of the highest
(04:51):
worker participation rates. We have some of the highest people
working multiple jobs anywhere in the country. There simply aren't
people sitting on the sideline in Nebraska to the numbers
anywhere close above them.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
What would you what we're chatting with Brian sloan Air
for another man of Brian, what would you do with
folks who are here they came into the country without
documentation and they're gainfully employed, they're not breaking other laws,
but they have used someone else's ID. There are a
lot of people if they got a legitimate job and
they're not here illegally, they scam the system somewhere along
(05:28):
the line.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right, Well, I think, let me give you a couple
of data points really quickly. I think a lot of
people believe that the bulk of our of our unauthorized
population came in the last few years, and then that's
not true. I would estimate the official estimate it's forty
two thousand undocument books in Nebraska. My guess is it's
(05:51):
somewhat bigger than that. Let's just say fifty thousand, almost
two thirds of those that have been here for ten
years coul those have been employed, Many have started into
their own businesses, and they're great community participants. The vast
majority have been here for a long time, and I
think there's been bills in Congress, and I think it's
(06:12):
important that to think about. Is there a point and
I'm you know, you can argue citizenship. I'm just saying,
residency for work. If you've been here for ten to
twenty thirty years and you've been productive and you've been working,
we need to find a way to deal with that
and to work. Obviously, somebody needed to assolved security number
(06:33):
somewhere along the way. I think we need to have
a grown up conversation about that. I think sorting out
individual circumstances rather than making blanket statements is really important
because that is a big, big chunk os Macgrass's workforce,
particularly in agg manufacturing construction areas where we exceed.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
One more thing that is I think important to Nebraskans,
and that is what is the realism of recruiting businesses
to the state with their employees. Is that just a
pipe dream or does that really happen?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
No? Actually, doctor Josie Shaffer at u Ando's does really
nice work on this. Her data would pretty clearly indicate
that as you recruit businesses with jobs, employees will follow
those jobs. And there's no question and I think you
know from my Chamber of Commerce experience, Yoba Chamber, of
lincol Chamber and the chambers present the state are doing
a pretty good job of this. Of recruiting companies with
(07:37):
great paying jobs is key to recruiting sort of that
domestic population that Gary was talking about, how do we
bring people domestically in? And I think b bringing great
companies to the state is probably more essential now than
it was even twenty years.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
How are we doing on that front?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
We are not doing nearly as well as we should
that there are states which are very aggressive at at
this point. I certainly would take Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee as
examples we need. As I told him, I used to
tell the staff at the State Chamber, we don't have
to be perfect, but boy, we better try to be
(08:18):
better than forty nine other state, this is the future
for our grandchildren's children.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Yeah. A much longer conversation as needed. I got a
scoot for the moment, Brian, but thanks appreciate the time
as always.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So guys, I really appreciate you discussing the topic this morning.
I can't think of anything more important.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, and on where it goes too. That's Brian Sloan
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