Career Cabs Brings Over 600 Students to 75 Businesses in Western Nebraska

Career Connections of Western Nebraska continues to grow its Career Cabs program, bringing high school students from across the region to businesses and organizations so they can experience work environments firsthand. In 2025, 611 students participated in the event, each visiting four different workplaces within their desired industry.

Since the program started three years ago, more than 2,000 students have participated and visited more than 100 businesses (with the help of more than 100 volunteers).    

“This is our third year running the Career Cabs program, and students are more excited than ever to meet with employers and tour their facilities,” says Jordan Diedrich, Executive Director of Trusted Community Development (TCD). “The number of organizations that want to participate is also growing as companies hear about the program.”

The Career Cabs event now spans 11 counties and 23 school districts. All of the students who participate are in 10th grade, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of career fields they are interested in before they start taking classes to enter them. 

Students Tour Businesses Across Seven Key Industries

While students can follow dozens of career paths after leaving high school, the Career Cabs event focuses on eight key areas: Agriculture, Arts/Communications, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, Human Services, and Trades. Students choose which path they want to explore and see how work environments can change from one company to the next within the industry.

Students come together at the start of the day for a Career Cabs introduction and then convene in the afternoon for a group session. During the day, they board buses heading to their designated industries, with each bus stopping at two businesses in the morning and two in the afternoon.

“This event is valuable because it allows students to see the exact work environments they will operate in, while also exploring just how diverse each industry is,” says Diedrich. “Using healthcare as an example, a hospital might have hundreds of different positions ranging from brain surgeons to nursing assistants and accountants. Students can see where they could fit in.” 

Most Teens Rely On Teachers and Counselors to Explore Careers

The goal of introducing Western Nebraska youth to potential career opportunities came from a 2023 Teen Opportunity Survey of 3,800 local middle and high school students. More than half of students (58%) said they learn about local employers from their teachers and school counselors. Additionally, 24% of students said their school does not teach them about local career opportunities.

“We want students to be excited about their options after graduation, and that starts with introducing them to potential employers,” says Diedrich. “If a student has an idea of their target career field and knows of a company nearby that needs their skills, they are more likely to stay in the area.”

The survey also found that 41% of students say it is unlikely that they will stay in their community after high school, while 33% say it is unlikely they will return in the future. These insights underscore the importance of creating a community that young people want to stay in, which means developing both employment and social-recreational opportunities. 

More Students Want to Enter the Workforce After High School

Another notable point from the Teen Opportunity Survey is that more students plan to enter the workforce immediately after graduating from high school. Five years ago, only 7% of students planned to work immediately after graduation, which increased to 13% in 2023. The percentage of students planning to attend college has dropped from 75% to 65% in the past five years.

The Career Cabs event doesn’t push students in any specific direction. Its goal is to introduce students to different career field options and explain the path to succeed in that environment. In some cases, students might be successful in entering the workforce after high school, allowing them to save money to attend college in the future if they choose. In other cases, a college degree may be required for even entry-level positions.

The Career Cabs tours also explain the value of internships and apprenticeship programs, which can help students gain experience while they study. Some students use the day to network with employers and potentially land summer jobs and work-study positions while they are still in school. 

Western Nebraska Has Multiple Workforce Partners

Career Cabs is made possible through a partnership with the Heartland Center for Leadership Development, along with local school districts and over 75 participating businesses. It wouldn’t be possible without hundreds of people working together to create this opportunity for students.

However, this is just one program to support workforce development, retention, and recruitment in the area. Trusted Community Development offers several resources and opportunities to help businesses find the talent they need.

Let us help you grow your business, whether you are an entrepreneur hiring for the first time or an enterprise preparing a major expansion. The Western Nebraska community is ready to step in and meet your needs.