LINCOLN- According to a leading state economist Eric Thompson, Nebraska has weathered past recessions better than any state in the country, and may just do it again.

Thompson, who is the director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, stated that Nebraska's high rates of workforce participation and education could help the state fend off some of the worst effects of high inflation and economic downturn.

However, depending on the severity of the recession, Thompson isn't optimistic, "If the U.S. gets into a significant recession, we'll get pulled in, too," he said.

Thompson praised Nebraska workers for having "good resumes," and also lauded Nebraska's high workforce numbers and our higher-than-national-average population of college-educated workers. "Those are the kinds of people who are most likely to hold onto their jobs during a downturn and find new jobs quickly," Thompson said.

Certain analysts predict that the U.S. will have a "soft landing" from high inflation that won't result in high inflation that leaves many jobless.

Thompson stated that working-class and low-income Nebraskans are hurting the most from high inflation. He believes tax cuts may be able to help those in these situations, and that systematic changes must be done to our state tax system.

Thompson also believes that immigration may be another way for Nebraska to weather the potential recession. "Maybe we can be known as the state that's most welcoming to immigrants," he said.

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