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Federal Shutdown: Idaho Unemployment Insurance Benefits

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This blog post was updated Jan. 29, 2019

Question: I am a federal worker who has been furloughed. Am I eligible for unemployment?

Answer: Yes. You are considered laid off due to lack of work and you need to meet personal and monetary eligibility. However as a federal employee, you also need to be aware of several unintended consequences of applying for unemployment insurance benefits.

Before you apply, please consider the following:

  • You will not receive your first unemployment insurance payment for approximately three weeks after you file for benefits.
  • If the federal government compensates you or back pays you for the work you missed during the furlough (as it has historically), you will be required to disclose your payment information to the department and repay any unemployment insurance benefits you collect during that time.
  • You are required to seek work and make at least two job contacts per week.

Q. Once the shutdown is over, if the federal government back pays us for our time away from work, is this income reportable? If so, how should I report my income?

A. Yes. If you receive your back pay, call us at (208) 332-8942 and let us know.

Q. Once the shutdown is over, if the federal government back pays us for our time away from work, do I have to repay benefits?

A. Yes. For unemployment insurance purposes, any back pay you receive from the federal government is reportable income for the weeks you are furloughed and will result in an overpayment of benefits. Please be aware that unpaid overpayments accrue interest of about 11 percent after 30 days from the overpayment establishment. If you have an outstanding overpayment balance, the department will seize your state tax refund, potentially delaying your refund. If your overpayment balance exceeds $350, you must contact us at (208) 332-3842 to set up a repayment agreement that does not exceed three months to avoid a lien being filed against you.

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Idaho Labor Helps Premier Technology Launch Registered Apprenticeship Program

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News Release

For Immediate Release: Feb. 12, 2019
Information Contact: John Russ, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3303

Premier Technology in Blackfoot is the most recent company in Idaho to earn a certificate establishing its first Registered Apprenticeship program. Premier’s new apprenticeship for machinists became registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship for meeting national standards.

The idea took root after Premier’s Human Resources Manager Nicole Simpson attended a presentation at Idaho State University, where the Idaho Department of Labor and Idaho Career and Technical Education shared information about how to establish an apprenticeship program and its benefits. With support from Premier’s management, Simpson got in touch with John Russ, the Apprenticeship Idaho coordinator at Labor.

“It was daunting to see all this information about registered apprenticeships and figure out how to put this program together, but the Department of Labor made it very easy,” Simpson said.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in January 2019

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Information provided in this article 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

  • Thomas Tedder, founder and CEO of Post Falls holster manufacturer Tedder Industries, has sold a majority share in the manufacturer to a Texas-based investment group. Tedder said he would phase out of the CEO role over the following months and focus on his real estate concerns at his other company, Tedder Properties. Source: Spokane-Kootenai Journal of Business
  • Two new urban renewal districts have been proposed in the city of Rathdrum. Amid record growth, Rathdrum’s urban renewal agency has conducted eligibility studies to create two new renewal districts aimed at improving a total of 155 acres worth of lots. Currently, construction on the lots in question is blocked by gas and power lines that create “hurdles” to development, which would be remediated by the proposed renewal projects. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Kootenai County’s commissioners are preparing to revisit the controversial new building permit opt-out provisions. The provision, adopted last year, allows builders on unincorporated lots in Kootenai County to opt out of county building codes. The new board of commissioners – two of the three commissioners are newly elected – plans to revisit the opt-out provision, starting with a series of public hearings. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • North Idaho College was awarded a three-year federal grant worth $675,607. It will use the funds to launch a new NIC Venture Center, which will support the college’s entrepreneurial programs. The Venture Center will feature new educational programming for entrepreneurship, as well as a rapid prototype lab for manufacturing. In 2017, NIC was named Entrepreneurial College of the Year by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings in Coeur d’Alene

  • Terre Coffee and Bakery
  • Great Expectations Painting
  • Schwartz Law

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

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Registration Open for Serve Idaho’s Annual Volunteerism Conference

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News Release

For Immediate Release: Jan. 28, 2019
Information Contact: Renee Bade, (208) 332-3578 ext. 4061

Registration is open for the 2019 Serve Idaho Conference, “Giving Back Unites.” The conference takes place March 27, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Jordan Ballroom at Boise State University Student Union.

 

The conference is designed for nonprofit and volunteer management professionals and AmeriCorps directors and members. Workshops, speakers and networking sessions are also ideal for anyone who wants to collaborate and build resilient communities through volunteerism and service.

Idahoans Luke Michelson and Stephanie Taylor-Silva are featured keynote speakers.

Luke Michelson

Stephanie Taylor-Silva

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Idaho Population’s Growth Rate Tied for Fastest in Nation

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Idaho’s population totaled 1.75 million as of July 2018, growing at a rate of 2.1 percent from July 2017 and tying with Nevada for the fastest growth rate in the nation.

Utah with 1.9 percent was third. Wyoming declined by 1 percent to 579,300 – one of five states to see a decline during this time.

The national average growth rate was 0.6 percent.

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Engineering Careers Among Best Paid Occupations

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Interested in a career building the infrastructure or machines that are the backbone of modern technology? Or working to expand that frontier? If engineering is the career path for you, it is among the best paid occupations in the nation and Idaho compared with other occupations.

Depending on the specialization, in Idaho engineers earn a median from $32 to $57 per hour. As a group, it is among the fastest growing occupations in Idaho. The field is projected to grow by almost 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, adding 1,100 jobs with another 7,400 potential job opportunities as engineers retire or leave the occupation.

Read more about engineering on the BLS website.

Learn about other career options in JobScape.

Idaho Department of Labor

Idaho’s December Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 2.6 Percent

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News Release

For Immediate Release: Jan. 18, 2019
Information Contact: Craig Shaul (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201 or Karen Jarboe Singletary (208) 332-3570 ext. 3215

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent in December – the 16th consecutive month the rate has been at or below 3 percent.

The state’s labor force – the total number of people age 16 years or older working or looking for work – increased slightly by two tenths of a percent from November, up 2,013 people to 856,337.

The number of people working increased by 1,823 for a total of 833,756, while the number of unemployed dropped by 190 to 22,581. Continue reading →

Idaho Labor Groups Celebrate Idaho Human Rights / Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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News Release

For Immediate Release: Jan. 17, 2019
Information Contact: Carmen Barney, Idaho Human Rights Commission, (208) 334-2873 ext. 3682; Renee Bade, Serve Idaho, (208) 332-3578 ext. 4061

Serve Idaho and the Idaho Human Rights Commission are participating in the Idaho Human Rights/Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the Idaho State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 21.

Activities are centered in the Capitol rotunda, 2nd floor, beginning at noon Monday with a performance by Boise State University trumpeters.

Gov. Brad Little will read the Idaho Human Rights Day proclamation followed by a keynote speaker and inspiring messages from a diverse array of Idaho citizens. Labor Director Jani Revier will provide closing remarks. The event includes a performance by Mariachi De Mi Tierra, a mariachi composed of local area youth.

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Idaho Volunteers Recognized at Brightest Stars Awards Ceremony

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News Release

For Immediate Release: Jan. 17, 2019
Information Contact: Renee Bade, (208) 332-3578 ext. 4061

Sixty-nine outstanding volunteers from throughout the state were honored at Idaho’s Brightest Stars Ceremony Wednesday in Boise. The annual event is organized by Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

“Volunteerism is a gift that benefits citizens and addresses needs in communities throughout our state,” said Gov. Brad Little. “These men and women are not seeking recognition, but it is important to acknowledge these Brightest Star recipients and their generous commitment to giving to others and ensuring a bright future for all citizens.”

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in December 2018

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Information provided in this article 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

Bonner County

  • The YMCA of the Inland Northwest acquired Sandpoint West Athletic Club, with the intent of turning the health club into a new YMCA branch. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

Kootenai County

  • The city of Coeur d’Alene moved forward with a proposal to create an urban renewal district around the Kootenai Health hospital campus. The city council expressed concern about the cramped hospital corridor and noted that without efforts to consolidate properties around Kootenai Health and creating space to allow the hospital to grow, the hospital could be forced to move. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Idaho Transportation Department will fund a one-year study on traffic management in Kootenai County, which will examine the viability of a regional traffic management center. The Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization will manage the study. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Post Falls Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special use permit for the construction of a UPS distribution facility next to single-family homes in east Post Falls. The commission approved the permit after neighbors voiced their concerns about the potential noise and traffic that the distribution center would generate. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings

  • Terre Coffee and Bakery in Coeur d’Alene

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

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Serve Idaho Commission Announces New Leadership

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News Release

For Immediate Release: Jan. 8, 2019
Information Contact: Renee Bade, (208) 332-3578 ext. 4061

Colleen Schowalter

Colleen Schowalter

Colleen Schowalter of Boise and Kimber Russell of Meridian, were elected to serve as the 2019 chair and vice chair of Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

Chair Colleen Schowalter is the volunteer services coordinator and studio manager for the Idaho Commission for Libraries. She previously served for two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) and VISTA leader with the Idaho National Guard Family Programs and the Idaho Foodbank. She serves as the public affairs officer for the Boise Veterans Parade committee.

Kimber Russell

Vice Chair Kimber Russell is a business coach and the director of content development for Gritt Business Coaching. She also owns a small business that supports Treasure Valley small businesses. She previously worked as the merchandising and marketing manager for Stinker Stores and is finishing her doctorate of Business Administration from Walden University this year. She is active in supporting the Super Sam Foundation and the Idaho Foodbank.

“Both Ms. Schowalter and Ms. Russell bring an enthusiasm for service that is second to none,” said Program Manager Renee Bade. “We are extremely fortunate to have both of them serve as leaders of the commission this year.”

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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 the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Idaho Department of Labor.

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