LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) - After state officials initially said Nebraska had made zero cuts to the workforce of the state’s Department of Economic Development, they acknowledged the department has paid roughly 22 fewer full-time employees over the past two months.

Similar workforce reductions have also impacted various other state agencies, prompting new concerns from some frontline workers that Gov. Jim Pillen and his administration are focusing on staff cuts to balance Nebraska’s budget.

A department spokesman, working with the Governor’s Office, initially said, in response to a reporter’s questions, that DED had seen “0 layoffs/reductions in force” in September and October, when the Examiner first asked in early November. The department noted it had seen voluntary departures

See Full Page