Monthly Archives: May 2018

Boise City Council Member Appointed as Serve Idaho Commissioner

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 17, 2018
Information Contact: Renee Bade, (208) 332-3578 ext. 4061

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter appointed Lisa Sánchez, Boise City Council member, to Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

“Ms. Sánchez brings a wealth of knowledge about the Boise community and great enthusiasm for the role of volunteers,” said Renee Bade, program manager for Serve Idaho. Continue reading →

An Alternative Measure of Idaho’s Labor Supply

In the nine years of growth following the recession of 2008-09, Idaho’s economy has created roughly 118,000 jobs. This amounts to a total growth of 17 percent over the low point of the recession, when Idaho’s total employment fell to 686,600 in March 2008. In comparison, total employment across the United States has grown by roughly 13 percent above its recession low point. Comparing growth rates – whether between states, regions or counties – only tells part of the story, however. Idaho’s job creation performance can be better evaluated in context of the state’s demographics.

The premise of this analysis is relatively straightforward. The notion of a healthy labor market – usually termed “full employment” – infers that jobs are abundant enough to employ everyone who wants to be employed. This implies job creation should be measured against the number of potential workers.

Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic Activity in April 2018

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

Benewah County

  • Marimm Health – the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s health agency – has revealed plans to build a $15.8 million youth center in Worley. Marimm said the goal of the project is to reduce high crime and substance abuse rates among the youth in Worley and its outlying areas. Source: St. Maries Gazette Record

Kootenai County

  • Rocky Mountain Liquidation – a Hayden-based overstock retailer – has opened a second retail outlet in the Riverbend Commerce Park in Post Falls. The store sells consumer goods like clothing and housewares that are acquired as overstock from major retailers. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • The Coeur d’Alene Resort announced a timeline to complete an extensive round of renovations in May. The resort is improving all 338 of its guest rooms. These improvements include new carpeting, furnishings, and renovations to the pool and fitness center. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • Hayden-based Empire Airlines has announced a collaboration with FedEx to train pilots. The program – called the FedEx Express Pathways Purple Runway Program – aims to recruit pilots from universities and aviation colleges and train them for advancement in the FedEx fleet. Empire Airlines provides air cargo services for FedEx. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

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

Continue reading →

Fewer Workplace Deaths in Idaho in 2016

Thirty work-related deaths were recorded in Idaho in 2016, down from 36 in 2015, while nationally there was an increase of 7.3 percent from 4,836 in 2015 to 5,190 in 2016.

Over the past 14 years, the leading cause of deaths in the workplace occurred in the transportation industry and transportation-related incidents in either agricultural and forestry industries. The second leading cause involves contact with objects and equipment and exposure to toxic substances. Less frequently, deaths results from violence in the workplace (Chart 1). Continue reading →