“But, Grand Island has not, however, been immune to challenges this year,” Johnson said.
“Supply chain issues nationally and internationally have significantly impacted the inventory of motor vehicles, tractor/trailers and farm equipment,” she said. “Yet, even with reduced available inventory, motor vehicle sales in Hall County were $134 million as of the end of September and will surpass all previous years’ sales.”
Johnson said these supply chain breakdowns are directly related to another issue facing the United States – low unemployment and insufficient workers to meet business production.
She said Grand Island and Nebraska have experienced low unemployment for years with Grand Island’s rate running in the 1.3%-1.5% range. The Grand Island MSA unemployment rate for November was 1.2%, meaning only 529 people of the 42,803 in the workforce are unemployed.
Grand Island’s Metropolitan Statistical Area of Hall, Howard, Hamilton and Merrick counties has a total population of 86,467 people.
“While a low unemployment rate is certainly more desirable than a high number of unemployed people, the lack of an available workforce is problematic for business continuity of operations and detrimental to growth and recruitment,” Johnson said.