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from the issue of September 16, 2004
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Poll: Rural Nebraskans optimistic
BY VICKI MILLER, IANR NEWS SERVICE
Rural Nebraskans are more optimistic about the future than they were a year ago, according to this year's Nebraska Rural Poll.
Thirty-six percent of respondents to this year's University of Nebraska poll said they are better off than they were five years ago, up from 27 percent in 2003. The percentage who said they are worse off than five years ago dropped to 23 percent from 30 percent a year ago. The remaining 41 percent of respondents said they were about the same as five years ago, down from 43 percent.
An improving state economy probably is one factor in the more optimistic view, said Randy Cantrell, a university Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources sociologist who helps conduct the poll.
Over the nine years of the annual survey of rural Nebraskans, about 36 percent of respondents said they were better off than five years ago, and the same percentage said they expect to be better off in 10 years.
"We've had a couple of blips along the way but this is right back in line with what the well-being percentages have been," said Becky Vogt, project manager for the poll.
Farmers and ranchers were significantly more positive this year than last. This year, 37 percent of farmers and ranchers said they were better off than five years ago, compared with 19 percent a year earlier. And 38 percent said they expect to be better off in 10 years, up slightly from 34 percent in 2003.
There were other significant occupational differences. More than half of people with professional, technical or administrative jobs said they were better off than five years ago and expect to be in 10 years. Thirty-five percent of manual laborers said they were better off than five years ago while 45 percent expect to be in 10 years.
Only 39 percent of manual laborers were satisfied with their current income while nearly half were dissatisfied, compared with 62 percent satisfaction and 32 percent dissatisfaction among professional, technical or administrative workers.
This year's poll continued to show that education and income are keys to well-being and feelings of empowerment, Cantrell said.
"Where we see people get really optimistic or less pessimistic is when they make more money. That's clearly a straight line progression," Cantrell said. "And education is directly related to well-being."
The poll also annually asks rural Nebraskans about their satisfaction with various aspects of their lives. As in the past, their marriages, families, friends and religion and spirituality were tops in satisfaction. Again, respondents were most dissatisfied with financial security during retirement, job opportunities and current income.
"Anytime you work with a rural community and ask what makes the place desirable, they tick off all these things," Cantrell said. "What keeps them there are the quality of life, the family ties and the social network."
Over the years, poll results have indicated rural Nebraskans are willing to make financial sacrifices to enjoy the close-knit social dimensions of rural life, Vogt said.
"The question is at what point will the financial considerations outweigh the other reasons for staying and force them to leave," Vogt said. "That's a concern."
Surveys were mailed in February and March to 6,300 randomly selected households in Nebraska's 84 rural counties. Results are based on 2,915 responses. The scientific poll is the largest annual survey of rural Nebraskans' perceptions on quality of life and policy issues. This year's response rate was 47 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent. Other polls released this summer discussed water use and quality, access to and satisfaction with health-care services, and community and community-service experiences.
Poll
Complete Rural Poll results are available at http://cari.unl.edu/ruralpoll.htm.
GO TO: ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 16
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