Monthly Archives: October 2020

Respuestas a preguntas frecuentes acerca del fraude de identidad del Seguro de Desempleo

Pregunta: Las solicitudes para beneficios de desempleo, ¿están siendo llenadas por personas que se han robado la identidad de alguien?

Respuesta: Sí. Redes criminales a través de todo el globo están explotando la crisis de Covid-19 intentando cometer fraude a gran escala contra varios programas de seguro de desempleo estatales. Estas redes criminales poseen bases de datos sustanciales de información personal identificable robadas, las cuales son usadas para entregar un gran volumen de solicitudes de beneficios seguro de desempleo. Los estafadores usan los nombres y direcciones de residentes de Idaho, pero hacen enviar los fondos a cuentas bancarias en otros estados o hacen que las tarjetas bancarias sean enviadas a direcciones diferentes. El Departamento está trabajando muy de cerca con las agencias policiacas federales y las oficinas del Inspector General del Departamento de Trabajo Federal para abordar este problema.

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Idaho Job Corps to Host Community Night Nov. 4

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 29, 2020
Media Contact: Tina Polishchuk, Tina.Polishchuk@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho youth between ages 16-24 who are looking for skills training and a job are invited to attend a Nov. 4 dinner at the Idaho Centennial Job Corps campus in Nampa and are encouraged to bring someone with them.

“Everyone knows someone who can benefit from the Idaho Job Corps program,” said Courtney Hudnall, student placement supervisor.

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Decrease for 25th Consecutive Week

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 29, 2020
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Salvador Vazquez, Salvador.Vazquez@labor.idaho.gov

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for unemployment insurance benefits fell for the 25th consecutive week, dropping 2 percent for the week ending Oct. 24 to 8,024. The four-week moving average for continued claims fell by 5 percent – down from 8,910 for the week ending Oct. 17 to 8,442.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 3,862 for the week ending Oct. 24, increasing by 569 claims while the four-week moving average was up by 7 percent to 3,407.

The department paid out $6 million in claims during the week ending Oct. 24, up from $5.8 million for the week ending Oct 17. Regular state benefit payouts were $1.8 million, the same as the previous week, but 2.1 times higher than the same week in 2019. Of the CARES Act programs, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) payments paid out $1.6 million, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) paid out $2.3 million, up from $2.1 million the previous week, and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) paid out $.3 million, up $.1 million.

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Unemployment Insurance Identity Fraud Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Are unemployment insurance applications being filed by people who have stolen someone’s identity?

Answer: Yes. Crime rings across the globe are exploiting the COVID-19 crisis by attempting to commit large scale fraud against multiple state unemployment insurance programs. These crime rings possess substantial databases of stolen personally identifiable information which is used to submit a large volume of applications for unemployment benefits. Scammers use the names and addresses of Idaho residents, but then have payments sent to bank accounts in other states or have bank cards mailed to different addresses. The department is working closely with federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General to address fraud.

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Manufacturing in Southwestern Idaho Offers Opportunity

Launching a new career, or considering changing a current one, can be daunting and even more so during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. But In spite of the negative effects of the pandemic on many industries, manufacturing  can offers opportunities.

Manufacturing is an evolving industry, especially in southwestern Idaho ranging from semi-conductor chip manufacturing to potato chip manufacturing. The skill levels of the workforce over the past couple of decades have changed dramatically as manufacturing is more automated and less physically demanding in many cases. Markets have changed with more global opportunities for Idaho products.

The highest level of manufacturing among Idaho’s six regions is in southwestern Idaho with more than 30,000 jobs across its 10 counties – 47 percent of all Idaho manufacturing jobs. South central Idaho has the next largest share at just 15 percent. The southwestern region’s 10 counties are diverse and include the state’s largest metropolitan area, Boise, remote small counties with logging traditions and vast counties citing its greatest population density as sagebrush and four-legged beef cattle. The share of manufacturing jobs in southwestern Idaho is higher than the nation’s by 4 percent but ranks fifth in share among Idaho’s six regions — the other five regions have significantly fewer total jobs than southwestern Idaho. The trend is showing some downward movement due to reduced production by large tech employers such as HP and Micron.

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More than 50 Idahoans Receive Awards for Volunteerism and Philanthropy

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 23, 2020
Media Contact: Renee Bade, Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov

More than 50 Idahoans will be honored at the Idaho Philanthropy Day award presentations in November at regional celebrations.

“Every year the selection process becomes harder and harder,” said Amy Little, CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center. “Idaho has so many impressive citizens and we cannot wait to give their generosity center stage this fall.”

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Decrease for 24th Consecutive Week

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 22, 2020
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Salvador Vazquez, Salvador.Vazquez@labor.idaho.gov

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for unemployment insurance benefits fell for the 24th consecutive week, dropping 2 percent for the week ending Oct. 17 to 8,215. The four-week moving average for continued claims fell by 7 percent – down from 9,533 for the week ending Oct. 10 to 8,910.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 3,293 for the week ending Oct. 17, decreasing by 226 claims while the four-week moving average fell by just 1 percent to 3,191.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in September 2020

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 Idaho
Eastern Idaho

 

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

  • Kootenai County
    • Fatbeam LLC – a Coeur d’Alene-based fiber provider – is introducing a new product called Cloudbeam, which will allow its customers to connect securely to cloud services. Cloudbeam will function as Fatbeam’s proprietary alternative to VPN (virtual private network) services. Source: Journal of Business
    • Engel & Volkers, a German-based international luxury real estate brokerage, has opened an office in Coeur d’Alene with plans for a Sandpoint office in 2021. Source: Journal of Business
    • Quest Integration Inc., a Post Falls technology firm providing support for the manufacture and design of 3D printers, has been acquired by Hawk Ridge Systems, a California-based manufacturer of 3D printing systems. Quest will continue to operate under that name during the integration process but will eventually operate under the Hawk Ridge name. Source: Journal of Business

     

Openings – Coeur d’Alene

  • Mangia Wood Fired Pizza
  • Hasani Coffee
  • Bou Cou, dancewear and fitness wear
  • Rokko’s Teriyaki & BBQ
  • Izzy’s Comfort Kitchen
  • Everlong Studio, a photography studio
  • Bjorkman Film & Video
  • Spirit Halloween
  • Roger’s Ice Cream & Burgers

Openings – Post Falls

  • Unlimited Health Chiropractic
  • Teton House

Openings – Hayden

  • Edward Jones Investments

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

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Idaho’s September Labor Force Reaches Record High

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 16, 2020
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen Jarboe Singletary, karen.jarboesingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Record growth in the state’s seasonally adjusted labor force increased September’s unemployment rate to 6.1 percent, up from 4.2 percent in August. The labor force is up by 22,129 (+2.5 percent) to 918,644. As a result, the number of unemployed increased by 18,806, even as total employment continued to grow by 3,323 (+0.4 percent).

The record gains also pushed the state’s labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years and older with jobs or looking for work – up from 63.7 percent in August to 65.1 percent in September. The last time Idaho’s participation rate was at or above 65.1 percent was in August 2010 – just over 10 years ago.

Total nonfarm jobs dropped by 1,000 (-0.1 percent) to 758,600 for September. A substantial gain of 1,800 jobs in leisure and hospitality (+2.3 percent), combined with modest increases in financial activities, natural resources, and trade, transportation and utilities, were not enough to compensate for job declines in other industries, including a loss of 2,200 jobs in government (-1.7 percent).

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NIC Joins Other Community Colleges Enrolling Idaho Job Corps Students

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 15, 2020
Media Contact: Tina Polishchuk, (208) 442-4500

North Idaho College is the state’s latest community college to open its doors to Idaho Job Corps students.

The state-run Job Corps program –  designed to help low-income youth obtain higher education and on-the-job training – is also available at the College of Western Idaho in Nampa, the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls.

Each college is set up to serve 50 additional low-income youth. Idaho Job Corps applicants are enrolled as college students and work toward careers in high-growth jobs like nurses, pharmacy techs, welders, information technology specialists, carpenters, HVAC technicians, electricians, engineers and more. For some programs and students, dual enrollment is an option. Continue reading →