Monthly Archives: December 2020

FAQs for Unemployment Claimants about the CARES Act Extension

Are the unemployment insurance benefits that are funded through the CARES Act extended?

Yes. On Dec. 27, 2020, Pres. Donald Trump signed a stimulus bill that renews unemployment benefit programs through the CARES Act, that was originally set to expire Dec. 26, 2020.

Will I experience a gap in benefits?

If you were receiving benefits through the CARES Act, and they exhausted, your payments may be delayed. We are working as quickly as possible to implement the extension provisions. Please continue to submit your weekly certifications. You will be paid for all eligible week(s) claimed when the program is fully implemented.

I am currently on an extension. Am I eligible for additional weeks?

Yes. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), is commonly referred to as extended benefits. The bill added 11 weeks, extending the maximum number of benefit weeks from 13 to 24.

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Increase 4 Percent

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for regular state unemployment insurance benefits increased 4 percent for the week ending Dec. 26 to 11,706, up 481 over the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased from 10,412 for the week ending Dec. 19 to 11,028.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 4,226 for the week ending Dec. 26, up by 270 claims, while the four-week moving average increased by 1 percent to 4,335.

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Salmon Native Discovers Path to Teaching Career

There are many advantages to living in a town the size of Salmon, which Hannah Burch found out when she returned to her hometown after living in Alaska for four years.

“My mom ran into Julie Dodd in town and told her I was moving back and would be looking for work,” Hannah said. Julie is the manager of the Idaho Department of Labor Salmon office, and that was the contact she needed.

“Julie met with me and said she might have something,” Hannah said. That something turned into a training opportunity for Hannah to earn elementary education teacher training online through Western Governors University (WGU). And now Hannah, 26, is running a homeschool co-op for kids from kindergarten through sixth grade.

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FAQs About ID.me and Claimant Identity Verification

Who is ID.me?

ID.me is our federally certified partner for secure digital identity verification. ID.me helps make sure you’re you – and not someone pretending to you be you – when you apply for unemployment insurance. Claimants who are sent an email and letter from the Idaho Department of Labor about identity verification are required to verify their identity through the ID.me application, which can be accessed online with a laptop, desktop computer or cell phone.

I received a letter to verify my identity through ID.me, but I did not file a claim. What do I do?

Please email your full name and phone number to fraud@labor.idaho.gov. Please be assured we will stop payments and contact you for additional information if necessary.  You can file a report on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website about this situation. The FTC can help you recover from identity theft and has resources and information to protect your identity, including credit bureau contact information found here: https://www.identitytheft.gov/Steps

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Increase 6 Percent

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for regular state unemployment insurance benefits increased six percent for the week ending Dec. 19 to 11,225, up 595 over the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased from 9,804 for the week ending Dec. 12 to 10,412.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 3,956 for the week ending Dec. 19, down by 127 claims, while the four-week moving average decreased by 4 percent to 4,276.

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Idaho’s Standard Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate Drops Approximately 18% for 2021

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec.18 2020
Media Contacts: Georgia Smith, Georgia.Smith@labor.idaho.gov or Darlene Carnopis, Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho employers will see a roughly 18 percent decrease in unemployment insurance tax rates for 2021.

The state’s new employer rate remains at 1.0 percent – the lowest rate allowed by federal conformity requirements.

“Thanks to Governor Little approving a $200 million transfer of CARES Act funding to keep the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund whole, most Idaho businesses will see a decrease in their tax rate for 2021,” said Jani Revier, Idaho Department of Labor director. “This move by the governor allows Idaho to keep UI tax rates low in the coming year and will help business owners as they navigate through these difficult times,” Revier said.

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Idaho Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.8 Percent in November

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec.18 2020
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen Jarboe Singletary, karen.jarboesingletary@labor.idaho.gov

State nonfarm jobs see first year-over-year increase since pandemic

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent and nonfarm payrolls regained 6,200 jobs in November as the state’s economy continued to recover.

The unemployment rate dropped seven-tenths of a percentage point in November from October’s 5.5 percent. The current rate is 7 percentage points below April’s historic high of 11.8 percent.

Labor Force

The number of unemployed Idahoans fell by 6,605 to 43,814 (-13.1 percent). As a result, Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force decreased by 6,765 to 906,033, but still remains 11,400 higher than its pre-pandemic level in March. The total number of employed went essentially unchanged from October, dropping by 160 to 862,219.

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Increase 1 Percent

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for regular state unemployment insurance benefits increased one percent for the week ending Dec. 12 to 10,630, up 81 over the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased from 9,224 for the week ending Dec. 5 to 9,804.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 4,083 for the week ending Dec. 12, down by 992 claims, while the four-week moving average decreased by 5 percent to 4,470.

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Serve Idaho Seeking Commissioner Applicants

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec. 14, 2020
Media Contact: Renee Bade, renee.bade@labor.idaho.gov

Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, is seeking applicants to serve a three-year term.

The commission is seeking representatives from the following areas:

  • Business.
  • Volunteer sector.
  • A national service program.
  • County or city government.
  • Local labor organization.
  • Expertise in the educational, training and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in November 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

Region

  • The Panhandle Health District approved a mask mandate for all five northern counties, effective for 60 days. All five counties are currently in the “red” category for COVID cases, with high test positive rates and hospitals nearing or at full capacity. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Kootenai County

  • Northwest Specialty Hospital has terminated an agreement with MultiCare Health System, which would have allowed MultiCare to become the majority owner of the hospital. Northwest Specialty will instead enter into a new agreement with Mountain View Hospital of Idaho Falls which will allow Northwest Specialty to remain physician-owned and operated. Source: Journal of Business
  • The city of Post Falls adopted a city-wide mask recommendation and a mask requirement on city property. The city also has begun revising guidelines to reduce occupancy at city facilities to align with Idaho’s movement back to Stage 2 COVID requirements. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings – Coeur d’Alene

  • University Auto Sales
  • Pho Le 1
  • Starbucks
  • See’s Candies
  • Budget Storage
  • Five Pine Wealth Management

Openings – Post Falls

  • Premier Vendor Mall
  • UPS
  • Riverside Coffee
  • Mugsy’s Espresso

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

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