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FAQs – Idaho to End Federal CARES Act Unemployment in June 2021

Question: Is Idaho discontinuing federal CARES Act unemployment insurance programs?

Answer: Yes, Idaho will end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment compensation programs week ending June 19, 2021.

Q: What programs are ending?

A: The following programs will end June 19, 2021.

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Idaho’s Rural-to-Urban Population Shift Continued in 2020

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:  June 11, 2021
Media Contact: Kathryn Tacke, (208) 799-5000 ext. 3984 or Craig Shaul, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201

Idaho’s urban areas continue to see significant population growth according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s recently released city population estimates for 2020.  

The Gem State had the fastest growing population in the nation — up 2.1% — between 2019 and 2020, with much of the growth occurring in Idaho’s urban areas. Nationwide, there are 3,093 cities with populations larger than 10,000. When those cities are ranked based on their percentage growth between 2019 and 2020, eight of the top 200 fastest-growing cities are in Idaho — Kuna (43), Post Falls (46), Star (55), Eagle (65), Meridian (70), Nampa (151) Ammon (167) and Caldwell (171) — all with growth rates ranging from 7.5% to 3.5%.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in May 2021

Information provided in these news updates is from professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

 

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Kootenai County

  • The Coeur d’Alene School District delayed the opening of a new planned magnet school until the 2022-2023 school year. District officials cited financial constraints as the reason. The magnet school will offer a hybrid learning model with a community service focus. Roughly 200 students are already enrolled in the school. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A new four-story mixed commercial and residential building will be built in Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone development. The building will include office spaces on the first floor with condo units on the higher floors. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Kootenai County’s Community Development office produced a 22-page report on potential growth management strategies and is seeking public comments and participation. Kootenai County has been growing by roughly 2.5% per year over the last decade, and the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization projects that the population of the county will grow by more than 130,000 by 2040. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

Openings in Coeur d’Alene

    • Terraza Waterfront Café.
    • The Fixture Gallery.
    • BidMore2Win Auctions.
    • Gas and Grain.
    • CDA Cremation & Funeral.
    • Cranberry Road Winery. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
    • Blue Shell Game Bar. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 457-8789 ext. 4451

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HCL America Inc. – Idaho Workers May Qualify for Training and Services Under Trade Act

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2021
Media Contact: Georgia Smith georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

Employees of HCL America Inc. – Idaho who have or will become totally or partially separated from employment at HCL America Inc. on or after Dec. 24, 2019, and before April 14, 2023, may be eligible for re-employment services under the federal Trade Act.

Former or current workers eligible to apply must be or have been engaged in the supply of engineering, research and development and digital process operation.

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Idaho Veteran Census Data Important for Providing Services

Idaho is home to an estimated 116,157 veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey1. That translates to a 9.1% share of the state’s overall population of individuals 18 years and older compared with the nation’s 18,230,322 veterans at a share of 7.3% of total population 18 years and older.

Data on where veterans and other characteristics are gathered for myriad reasons:

  • State and federal officials determine how and where to provide government services to assist veterans in all aspects of returning to civilian life. Some veterans find their specific jobs in the military do not transition to the civilian workforce, such as personnel who load armaments or who are involved in large-scale field logistics. At the county and state government levels, staff are assigned to help veterans find jobs, provide college and career counseling and making sure they understand their military benefits. Some federal jobs provide preference to veteran hiring by giving additional points to a job application. It is helpful to have someone who knows how to help newly-separated military veterans navigate these benefits.
  • It helps to know where veterans are living, so when Veteran Administration officials decide where to locate clinics, hospitals and long-term care facilities, they are placed in a centralized spot for access.
  • Many private employers prefer to hire veterans based on the levels of discipline and training that translates to resilience and solid work ethic.

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Labor Direct Job Referral Program Begins June 1

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 28, 2021
Media Contact: Georgia Smith, georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

A new Department of Labor referral program will result in more customized matches between job seekers and Idaho employers.

Starting June 1, department workforce consultants will refer qualified unemployment insurance claimants to job openings posted on IdahoWorks, the state’s job search engine, during one-on-one meetings.

Claimants will be referred to the job openings based on their skills and experience – and they must apply to fill the vacancy within two business days to remain eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

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Idaho Job Corps Celebrates First Graduating Class

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 21, 2021
Media Contact: Tina Polishchuk, tina.polishchuk@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Job Corps will celebrate its first graduates of 2020 and 2021, Monday, May 24, from 3:30-5:30 p.m., on the grounds of the Centennial Job Corps center, 3201 Ridgeview Drive in Nampa.

Monday’s graduation ceremonies will honor 22 students who accomplished their personal career goals by completing high school, earning their GED or receiving a skills certificate for an in-demand occupation like welding or phlebotomy.

Locally, the Idaho Department of Labor partners with the College of Western Idaho to deliver education, training and a whole host of wrap-around services to low-income students with barriers to employment.

Jayson, Jeremy and Braden (holding certificates) are part of a second class of students to become certified welders.

The Idaho Job Corps program is also available at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and the College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls.

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Idaho’s April Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.1%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 21, 2021
Media Contacts: Craig Shaul, craig.shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen Jarboe Singletary, karen.jarboesingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.1% in April, dropping slightly from 3.2% in March.

The state’s seasonally adjusted labor force increased by 969 to 900,324, marking the first increase for Idaho’s labor force this year.

The total number of working Idahoans grew by 1,603 to 872,168, while the number of unemployed dropped slightly from 28,815 in March to 28,156.

Idaho’s April labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years and older with jobs or looking for work – was 62.7%, down slightly from 62.8%.

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Idaho’s Volunteers of the Year Recognized In Person on May 19

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 17, 2021
Media Contact: Renee Bade, renee.bade@labor.idaho.gov

Three Gov. Cecil D. Andrus Volunteer of the Year Award recipients will be recognized in person during a small ceremony at 2 p.m. on May 19 in the Cecil D. Andrus Park in Boise.

Representatives of the Idaho Nonprofit Center and Serve Idaho, first presented the awards virtually to the three volunteers – Alina Rahim, Bill “Action” Jackson and Mary Robinette – in November.

This time, Gov. Brad Little and Tracy Andrus, daughter of the late Gov. Cecil D. Andrus, will recognize each of the winners in person:

  • At age 13, Alina Rahim of created an organization in Pocatello called Youth Activism Society (YAS) whose mission is to empower local youth to advocate for marginalized communities and volunteer with local initiatives.
  • Bill Jackson of Boise created the Idaho Youth Education Recycling Partnership, which recycles scrap metal from around the state.
  • Mary Robinette of Hayden has been a volunteer with Family Promise of North Idaho for eight years, which serves homeless families with children in the region.
  • Photos and honoree details can be found on the Idaho Labor blog at idahoatwork.com. Search for “Idaho Volunteers Recognized.”

The annual Idaho Philanthropy Day awards recognizes outstanding volunteers and philanthropists from throughout Idaho. In 2020, Serve Idaho combined efforts with the Idaho Nonprofit Center, replacing the previous Idaho’s Brightest Stars event. This is the third year that the Governor Cecil D. Andrus Volunteer of the Year Award was presented. Nominations for the 2021 Idaho Philanthropy Day awards are now open at idahononprofits.org/idaho-philanthropy-day.html. 

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Serve Idaho, a division of the Idaho Department of Labor, encourages voluntary public service and volunteerism throughout the state. The Serve Idaho Commission is funded in part by AmeriCorps and the Idaho Department of Labor.

Around Idaho: Economic Activity in April 2021

Information provided in these news updates is from professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

 

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Kootenai County

  • Work is now underway on a major Idaho Department of Transportation improvement project on State Route 41 between Post Falls and Rathdrum. The work includes widening the highway with additional lanes in both directions as well as new traffic lights and improved railroad crossings. The $131 million project is scheduled for completion in 2022. Source: Journal of Business
  • Coeur d’Alene Schools suspended its mask requirement for staff and students and replaced it with a mask recommendation. Mandatory masks for students have been a continued source of consternation for Coeur d’Alene parents. Source: CDA Press

Openings:

Coeur d’Alene

  • Chalice Brewing
  • Life is Good
  • ReMax Centennial
  • Lake City Vape
  • One Lakeside Hotel
  • Wallaroo’s
  • Affordable Bridal and Tuxedo
  • Prock’s Paint Bucket
  • Coeur d’Alene Wigs

Post Falls

  • The Coffee Market
  • Flippens Secured Self Storage
  • Washboard Laundromat

Spirit Lake

  • Retrofit Athletics

Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 457-8789 ext. 4451

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100+ Idaho employers will be hiring in Caldwell on May 19

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 18, 2021
Media Contact: Bob Vetter, (208) 332-3570 x 3913

Southwest District Health Department to offer free Covid-19 vaccine shots

The number of Idaho employers looking for employees at an outdoor hiring event in Caldwell this week has grown from 70 businesses to more than 100 with 3,000 jobs to fill.

The four-hour event starts at 10 a.m. and will run until 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 19 at the GALS Quad softball fields, 4700 Skyway St., in Caldwell.

Large employers including Ada County, St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, St. Luke’s Hospital, Amazon and Capitol Distributing are looking for electrical engineers, certified medical assistants, maintenance technicians, superintendents, security staff, warehouse associates, forklift drivers, custodians, customer service reps, landscaping staff and more.

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