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Idaho’s February unemployment rate down to 2.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2023
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.6% in February, edging down from January’s revised rate of 2.7%.

January’s labor force – workers who are employed or unemployed but looking for work – increased by 1,681 people (0.2%) to 958,117.

Idaho’s labor force participation was unchanged between January and February, remaining at 62.6%.

Total employment increased by 2,237 (0.2%) to 932,972 as unemployment decreased by 556 (-2.2%) to 25,145.

Idaho’s nonfarm jobs increased by 1,100 to 845,100 in February. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains include state government (4.7%), wholesale trade (2.2%), federal government (1.5%), information (1.1%), other services (1.1%), private education services (0.6%), and health care and social services (0.5%). Continue reading →

Idaho’s small employer establishments continue to grow

Small businesses continue to be the core drivers of employment growth throughout Idaho when considering both new establishments and overall contribution to total employment. However, large entities may have had more success in recruitment during the tight labor market of the past year due to name recognition, overall position growth and movement within the company, along with larger job listing budgets.

The average employer establishment in Idaho had approximately 11-12 workers over the past year, and more than 90% of Idaho’s covered employers have hired fewer than 20 people per year on average over the past four quarters.

Key employment metrics based on employer size for the past 12 months as of third quarter 2022:

  • 92% of Idaho’s employers hired fewer than 20 employees.
  • Fewer than 200 employers in Idaho hired more than 500 employees. These large employers make up less than 1% of total employers who pay unemployment insurance taxes but 27% of total statewide employment.
  • Idaho added nearly 6,000 employer establishments in the year ending Sept. 30, 2022, with 97% of them having fewer than 20 employees and all in the private sector.
  • One-year share of total employment by industry: professional and business services 33%, financial activities 12%, construction 12%, and health care and social assistance 10%.Table: Employer establishments by number of employees as of 3rdQ 2022

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Caldwell job fair March 28 to feature multiple employers and jobs

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2023
Media Contact: Traci.Petitt@labor.idaho.gov

Employers from several industries will be looking for workers at a hiring event Tuesday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Idaho Department of Labor Caldwell office, 4514 Thomas Jefferson St.

The Idaho Labor’s team hopes to trigger enthusiasm and participation along with celebration for job seekers who find success at the event.

Participating employers include ABM Industries, BlakRoc Site Services, City of Caldwell, Community Council of Idaho, J&S Asphalt Maintenance, O’Neal Construction, Oregon Dept. of Corrections, The Stow Company and T-Mobile.

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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Idaho Health Care Association helps women excel through Registered Apprenticeship

More Idahoans than ever before are using Registered Apprenticeship as a path to advance their job opportunities. For women in the workforce, apprenticeships like those managed by Idaho Health Care Association (IHCA) have proven beneficial in transforming their careers and filling gaps in Idaho’s labor market.

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Irish connections in Idaho

A wee bit of St. Patrick’s Day statistics

Every March 17, Ireland venerates the St. Patrick with a public holiday on the anniversary of his death[1]. While not a public holiday in the U.S., it is a day of celebration for many. It is the occasion to have a little ‘craic’ (news/gossip/entertainment) in homage to the Irish with food and drink that, if not Irish, is perhaps green in color, all while wearing green clothes. In the world of statistics and demographics, it’s a reason for another analysis highlighting the local connection  — or lack thereof — to the Emerald Island.

A total of 31.5 million people in the U.S. (9.5%) claim Irish ancestry[2] and outnumber the current Irish population by six to one. This means that every person in Ireland has six people in the U.S. (on average) eager to tell them they’re Irish, too, and to ask if they knew their sweet ancestor born in the County Kerry, County Mayo, County Limerick or (pick your county of Ireland here).

Map-US Irish population

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Multi-employer job fair set for March 22 in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 15, 2023
Media Contact: Joe.Goitiandia@labor.idaho.gov

Employers from several industries will be looking for workers at a job fair Wednesday, March 22, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Cole & Ustick branch of the Boise Public Library, 7557 W. Ustick Road.

Participating employers include the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson Merchandisers, Boise State University, City of Boise, Guerdon, Idaho Power, Norco, Transportation Security Administration, Treasure Valley YMCA and many more.

Some open positions include bus drivers, maintenance technicians, administrative assistant, engineer, purchasing agent, auditor, design drafter, HVAC specialist, among others.

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AmeriCorps members celebrated for their contributions

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2023
Media Contact: Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov

AmeriCorps members celebrated for their contributions

To celebrate the annual AmeriCorps Week, Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, is recognizing the valuable contributions of AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors who pledge to “get things done” for the nation.

Gov. Brad Little and Secretary of State and AmeriCorps alum Phil McGrane signed a proclamation designating March 12-16 Idaho AmeriCorps Week, and members were honored for their contributions by local organizations. The weeklong celebration also honors the contributions and support of thousands of local organizations that make these programs possible.

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Idaho’s January unemployment rate down to 2.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2023
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.7% in January, edging down from the revised 2.8% rate in December.

December 2022’s unemployment rate was revised down from 2.9% due to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual benchmarking process. This realignment of labor market variables is not an indicator of any changes in the state’s economy. (More information about the benchmarking process can be found below.)

January’s labor force – workers who are employed or unemployed but looking for work – increased by 1,593 people (0.2%) to 956,389.

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Meet 35+ employers at Labor’s Post Falls hiring event March 15

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 9, 2023
Media Contact: Keeler.Crawford@labor.idaho.gov

Over 100 jobs will be available for job seekers at the Idaho Department of Labor’s Post Falls hiring event Wednesday, March 15. The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Post Falls labor office located at 600 N. Thornton St.

Positions vary from carpenters, welders, warehouse workers, HVAC installers, truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, caregivers, customer service supervisors to commercial photographers, graphic designers, landscape maintenance workers and more.

A few employers who will be attending include Aerotek, All Ways Caring Homecare, Darnall Sprinklers, Fred Meyer, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, North Idaho Dental Personnel, NPL Construction, Serengeti Care and Shabby Fabrics.

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Impacted by foreign trade? Trade Act Assistance helps laid off employees find work

Employee layoffs are not uncommon when a U.S. company offshores some of its production or is sold to an international firm that does similar work in a foreign country.Photo: shipping containers on barge

That’s when employers and employees can seek out career transition support for their laid-off employees through the Trade Act Assistance program (TAA). TAA is a federal program administered by the U.S Department of Labor that provides services and benefits to workers who lose their jobs due foreign trade.

Various industries – such as manufacturing – might typically be affected by a foreign trade issue due to the ebb and flow of product supply. If layoffs occur as a result, businesses should know these layoffs don’t need to be devastating for their employees.

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