LINCOLN — Children of Nebraska’s 16,000 state employees will get 100% reimbursement for two years of tuition at state community colleges under an initiative highlighted Monday at a press conference held by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Not only will the new benefit serve to improve assistance for state workers, but will also train recent high school graduates for skilled jobs now unfilled in Nebraska.

Wages have been increased in recent months for workers of state prisons and other 24/7 state facilities to help combat the current workforce shortage in Nebraska and to incentive private and public sectors to raise wages.

The new program, officials said, could assist up to 1,000 children of state employees.

“We need to do things that differentiate us as an employer,” said Jason Jackson, the state’s chief human relations officer.

Community college tuition will be fully reimbursed in the state under the new program. Students must enter school prior to their 25th birthday and complete their studies by age 27.

Paul Illich, president of Southeast Community College, said they hope the program could help fill the statewide shortage of skilled workers in fields such as health care, construction, and information technology.

The cost of the program, approved by the Nebraska Legislature during the recently ended 2022 session, was estimated to rise to about $1 million a year. The community college system has agreed to give such students a 25% discount on tuition, so the state reimbursement will cover 75% of the normal cost.

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