Monthly Archives: April 2022

Around Idaho: Economic Activity in April 2022

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

  • A new program designed to match senior homeowners with extra space with tenants is being launched in Kootenai County in response to the severe local housing shortage. The project, called HomeShare Kootenai County, aims to create additional rental inventory by leveraging seniors who have extra space or who maintain multiple residences and vacate their Idaho homes in the winter. Source: Journal of Business
  • The Idaho Department of Transportation is beginning work on the next phase of improvements to State Route 41, connecting Post Falls and Rathdrum. The highway improvements will facilitate the new commercial and residential development occurring on the prairie in north Post Falls. The state route improvements are scheduled to be completed this year. ITD plans to begin preparations for the replacement of the current interchange between the SR41 and I-90. Source: Journal of Business
  • After tourism recovered in 2021 and the area experienced a resurgent demand for lodging, Kootenai County now has two new hotels planned – one in Coeur d’Alene and one in Post Falls. A TownePlace Suites hotel by Marriott is under construction in Coeur d’Alene, which will include 89 rooms, while in Post Falls plans are in place for a 154-room hotel, though the brand has not yet been specified. Both hotels are expected to be finished this year. Source: Journal of Business

Openings – Coeur d’Alene

  • Reignite Health Northwest
  • Edgy Veggie Salad
  • Inspired Nail Spa
  • F45 Training
  • Rakes Mediation
  • Water World
  • Dixie & Co.
  • The Goat Lounge
  • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Hayden

  • Hayden Furniture Depot

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

Continue reading →

Hispanics, minorities continue to boost Idaho’s economic growth

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 28, 2022
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

The economic influence of Idaho’s minorities and Hispanic populations has continued to expand over the past 10 years and projections show it’s not likely to slow down.

Growth in buying power for nearly all cultures in Idaho outpaced the U.S. average, according to estimates provided by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia. From 2010 to 2020, Idaho experienced some of the highest multicultural consumer growth in spending across all U.S. states. White people, Black people and American Indians ranked in the top five highest percent change of consumer spending over this time period. 

Chart: growth in consumer spending 2010 to 2020, Idaho and the U.S. Continue reading →

Plexus Corp. workers in Nampa may qualify for training and services under Trade Act

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2022
Media contact: Georgia.Smith@labor.idaho.gov 

Zoom meeting scheduled for April 26

Employees of Plexus Corp. in Nampa, Idaho, who have or will become totally or partially separated from employment with Plexus on or after Nov. 30, 2020, through March 10, 2024, are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

Workers who may qualify for benefits and services under the Trade Act depends upon specific eligibility and time limitation requirements, as well as certain wage and employment qualifications.

Continue reading →

Multi-employer job fair set for April 27 in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2022
Media contact: Joe.Goitiandia@labor.idaho.gov

Employers from several industries will be looking for workers at a job fair Wednesday, April 27, from 1 to 5 p.m., at Taft Elementary School gymnasium, 3722 W. Anderson St., in Boise.

Participating employers include Darigold, DirecTV, Frito Lay, Inn at 400 Capitol, Boise Centre, Roaring Springs, YMCA, Ada County Highway District, Peak Security of Idaho, Valley Regional Transit, Western Power Sport and several more.

Open positions include caregivers, food and beverage servers, production assistant, manager trainee, housekeepers, heavy equipment operator, route sales, transportation coordinator, lifeguards, marketing and communication coordinator and many more.

Continue reading →

April 27 employer online seminar focuses on employee retention

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2022
Media contact: Clinton.Renn@labor.idaho.gov

Southeastern Idaho employers are invited to a free Zoom seminar Wednesday, April 27, 9 to 10 a.m., to discuss employee retention.

Representatives from local businesses Spudnik, A & E Engineering and East Idaho Credit Union, will share best practices on how they retain talent, followed by a Q & A with participants.

Continue reading →

Idaho’s March unemployment rate falls to historic low of 2.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2022
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.7% in March – down from February’s rate of 2.8%. This marks a new record low since the series began in 1976.

The number of Idahoans employed or looking for work grew by 5,082 people (0.5%) to 932,278. Labor force participation increased by 0.2 percentage points between February and March to 62%. Idaho’s peak participation rate reached 71.4% in September 1998.

Total employment grew from February by 6,467 (0.7%) to 907,537 while total unemployment dropped by 1,385 (-5.3%) to 24,741.

Continue reading →

Labor offers employment services across northern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 13, 2022
Media Contact: Kellye.Sharp@labor.idaho.gov

Idahoans living in remote, rural areas of Idaho’s five most northern counties can now access state employment services in seven mobile office locations.

“Our mobile office model is for Idaho citizens without a Labor office in their community,” explains Department of Labor Director Jani Revier. “Our partnerships with local libraries, community centers, city halls and other organizations allow us to deliver face-to-face services to rural Idahoans. Our footprint is larger now than ever before.”

All mobile Labor locations offer walk-in hours and appointments staffed with a Department of Labor workforce consultant who can help with writing resumes, filling out job applications, preparing for an interview, accessing job training resources, filing for unemployment insurance benefits and other services. Continue reading →

Post Falls Labor office hosts job fair with more than 50 employers

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 7, 2022
Media Contact: Stacey.Hanlon@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor’s Post Falls office will host its biggest job fair of the year Wednesday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 50 employers are slated to attend the event, taking place at Real Life Ministries, 1866 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls.

Employers from northern Idaho and Spokane are recruiting for more than 700 openings. Positions with major employers and local businesses offer opportunities such as supervisors, caregivers, technicians, health care professionals, sales personnel, drivers, CDL instructor, manufacturing workers, operations manager and more. 

Historically low unemployment continues to boost wages and the number of openings available.  Continue reading →

ISU’s Institute for Rural Health Awarded $1.4 Million to Build Public Health AmeriCorps

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 6, 2022
Media Contact: Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho State University’s Institute for Rural Health (IRH) received more than $1.4 million in to expand public health across Idaho. The funding award comes from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and national service, which is part of Public Health AmeriCorps.

It will support 72 AmeriCorps members who will be placed across Idaho to increase the capacity of public health organizations, including providing suicide prevention and intervention training.

Logo: AmeriCorps IdahoWith this new funding, the IRH will leverage the skills and experience of AmeriCorps members throughout Idaho to expand capacity of public health agencies and increase the number of suicide prevention trainings offered throughout the state. This funding will also support members’ interests in learning more about public health careers and continuing to serve in the public health sector.

Continue reading →

Idaho youth continue growing through Idaho Job Corps

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2022
Media Contact: Tina Polishchuk, Ed.D, tina.polishchuk@labor.idaho.gov

When Idaho Job Corps welcomed its first group of students in October 2019 at its first location in Nampa, it was a three-year national demonstration project, piloting a new approach to serving youth. Idaho Job Corps is now readily accessible to Idaho’s youth in four locations across the state.

The overall goal? Eventually Serve 750 income-eligible students, ages 16-24, by training them for the workforce.

photo: girl sitting at computerToday, the program is thriving. Idaho Job Corps and the Idaho Department of Labor partner with the College of Western Idaho, College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College to deliver education, training and a whole host of wrap-around services to low-income students with barriers to employment.

To date, some 145 students have already moved through the program, and Idaho Job Corps is serving 195 students throughout the system – 43 of those enrolled just this year. Continue reading →