Barry Kennedy, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the shortage has become the greatest challenge that its manufacturing members face. Many have come to view the issue as more important than taxes and government regulation, he said.

“Our biggest challenge right now is finding the people to fill a lot of available jobs, good-paying jobs, but obviously those people do have to have certain skill sets,” Kennedy said. “Making sure that we create ways to help them get those skill sets is the big challenge right now.”

Kennedy said businesses are looking to hire more people but are struggling to find employees who are trained to work with sophisticated technology that's often required in the profession. His remarks came during an appearance at the Capitol with Gov. Dave Heineman, who proclaimed October as Nebraska Manufacturing Month.

Heineman said the shortage demonstrates the need to boost enrollment in Nebraska's community colleges and universities. He said the state has made some progress through the InternNE program, which provides $1.5 million a year in job-training money along with private matching funds to encourage Nebraska companies to hire paid interns.

“We need an educated, flexible and dynamic workforce,” Heineman said.

Kennedy said his group is reaching out to high schools and community colleges to try to attract more young people to the job. The chamber has also traveled to trade shows at military bases in Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.

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