What characterizes Omaha, Nebraska's economy? It's in the Midwest, so it's probably something like wheat, right? Farming? WRONG! Omaha actually ranks among the top ten cities for both billionaires and Fortune 500 companies per capita. In fact, Warren Buffet, who is ranked as one of the richest people in the entire world, calls Omaha home. What this means is that if you're going to be looking for a job here, you have more options than just fitting fabricated strainers into drains at a meat packing plant or tilling a field.

This isn't to say business and finance is the only productive sector of Omaha's economy. It's actually based upon a range of pursuits. Telecommunications is another big one. Companies like FirstData, Paypal, infoUSA, and Gallup have made sure the wire ducts of Omaha's office buildings are jam-packed with the networking cables and fiber optics necessary to run a computer-based business. This has recently earned Omaha a top-ten ranking on Newsweek's list of high-tech havens.

Architecture and construction are two industries that go hand-in-hand in Omaha, offering opportunities to both blue collar workers used to working with fire sleeves and office-bound engineer types. Thirty of the biggest architecture firms in the country are based here, which means that Omaha has the ability to erect some of the most stunning structures in the nation. It's no surprise, then, that the most popular industry among the city's males is construction rather than operating businesses that specialize in collision repair. Winnipeg's architecture firms are in for some stiff competition from Omaha for contracts.

For Omaha's females, the most popular industry is health care, followed closely by education. There are several health insurance providers, hospitals and universities in the city, as well as a top-notch public school system. Learning and health are paramount in the city. Many educators and health care professionals travel to expand their knowledge base, and therefore may be found at an Edmonton lipodissolve seminar.

The largest employer in the city, however, belongs to none of these categories. Rather, it is the nearby Offut Air Force Base. Next on the top employers list is Alegent Health, followed by Omaha Public Schools and the First Data Corporation. Also on the list: Nebraska Medical Center, the Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, the Union Pacific Railway, and the First National Bank. Each one employs between 4,000 and 10,000 people from Omaha, making them major contributors to the low unemployment rate.