Online Data Dashboard Shows COVID-19 Impact on Local Economy, Workers

The new Nebraska Economic Recovery Dashboard is a cutting-edge tool that provides data visualizations and key insights on the state’s economic health through the COVID-19 pandemic and into recovery. The dashboard includes data indicators in four major areas: business, economy, finance, and workforce.

More than 20 dynamic data visualizations are available on the dashboard, with options to view comparisons with other states, regionally, and nationally, including:

• Share of jobs at high risk of unemployment due to COVID-19 by state
• Unemployment claims, weekly and over time
• Business opening and closing rates
• Loan count and dollar amounts from the Payroll Protection Program by state

The dashboard is a joint project of the Planning Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature and the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR). Senator Tony Vargas, Chair of the Planning Committee, stated, “CPAR continues to be an invaluable resource and partner for the Committee, the Nebraska Legislature, and the state at large. We are living in unprecedented times, and it is critical that policymakers and public health leaders have as much information about COVID-19’s effects on our state and local economies as possible to enable us to make informed decisions and educate our communities and the public.”

The Legislature’s Planning Committee is tasked with studying shifting demographic trends to inform the Legislature’s long-term policy making decisions. CPAR is a unit in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Its mission is the collection and wide dissemination of public affairs data to facilitate an evidence-based approach to governance in Nebraska.

Data on the dashboard is compiled from a range of trusted sources that were vetted for accuracy, consistency, and comprehensiveness to ensure that indicators are available for all areas of the state. Data will be updated regularly to provide timely, ongoing information during the evolving pandemic. The dashboard can be accessed at cpar.unomaha.edu/policy. All data is freely available for public, journalistic, and other uses with proper attribution.