Johanns said the state has to create the opportunities for young people like McMahon and Vrbas to fashion careers in their hometowns. There is just a strong sense of community, from the senior citizens to the youngest citizens. The vibrancy, if not survival, of rural communities hanges in the balance. The labor problems are part of a national phenomenon confirmed Friday when the nation's unemployment rate hit a record 29-year low. The national situation has changed the rules from 20 years ago, Lamphear said.
Some help is on the way.
Lockwood, the Gering accountant and chairman of the state's revenue forecasting board, said distance-learning courses from the Peter Kiewit Information Science, Technology and Engineering Institute help improve the skills of computer programmers with Panhandle buxinesses. Education, from Internet courses for students in Chappell or Harrisburg through career retraining, may be the best help the state can provide, Johanns said. Lamphear said education is essential but not the lone initiative. Capital investment is needed for rural business to survive and grow, he said. Instead of adding more workers, investments can make workers more efficient, he said.