LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials say they are working to hire enough guards to staff the state's prisons, but it remains difficult to keep workers because of strong competition for them.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports retaining guards at the prisons in Tecumseh and Lincoln continues to be a challenge.

Low staffing levels and excessive overtime were factors in last spring's riot at the Tecumseh prison on May 10th.

Dawn Renee Smith with the state Department of Correctional Services says the state's low unemployment and strong economy makes it hard to keep workers.

Last year the turnover rate among protective services staff increased two percentage points to nearly 31 percent.

Mike Marvin with the Nebraska public employees union says he doesn't think staffing levels are adequate at the state's biggest prisons.