August 21 , 2007

Nebraska ethanol industry creates thousands of jobs

Recent figures provided by the Nebraska Public Power District show that the ethanol industry in Nebraska has created nearly 700 permanent jobs at ethanol plants. An additional 1,500 have been indirectly created by the ethanol industry in related industries and from increased economic activity created by the ethanol industry.

Jobs at Nebraska ethanol plants average an annual salary of $49,000 according to a 2006 survey by the Nebraska Ethanol Board, well above the average Nebraska salary of $34,300, according to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The ethanol industry not only provides employees with excellent compensation opportunities, it also generates wealth for entire communities, and by extension, all Nebraska,” said Todd Sneller, administrator of the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

“Income from jobs in the ethanol industry spurs more spending, which in turn creates additional jobs in communities and additional revenue in sectors like housing, financial services, goods and retail and raises communities’ tax revenue. Ethanol is an economic catalyst for Nebraska,” Sneller said.

Sneller said that the ethanol industry continues to create employment opportunities across the state by working with Nebraska community colleges to train, educate and recruit potential employees. The Nebraska Ethanol Board continues to expand its collaboration with Northeast Community College, which created an ethanol production program to train a new generation of workers for Nebraska’s booming ethanol industry. The ethanol education curriculum is part of a new Associate of Science program offered by the community college system. The stepped up training, education and recruitment program is part of an effort to meet the demand for an additional 2,500 ethanol related jobs in Nebraska.