Monthly Archives: July 2025

Governor recognizes Orofino volunteer for contributions

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 30, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Pictured above: Jo Moore (left) and Susan Jacobson (right).

A volunteer from Orofino received recognition for her service at the Idaho Capital for a Day event hosted by Gov. Brad Little, Thursday July 24.

Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, recognized Jo Moore with the Idaho’s Brightest Star Award for her exceptional volunteer service.

Moore was nominated by Susan Jacobson, president of the Clearwater Community Complex, for her dedication and commitment to ensuring a public aquatic facility is built. She has raised funds, gathered community input and support and provided weekly updates to the local paper on the progress of the project. Continue reading →

Hiring event brings job opportunities to Coeur d’Alene

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 30, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

A hiring event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 6, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave.

Employers planning to attend include All Ways Caring HomeCare, Buck Knives, Coeur d’Alene School District, Easterseals-Goodwill, Equus Workforce Solutions, Hilton Grand Vacations, Inland Chess Club, North Idaho Dental Group, PotlatchDeltic and more.

Jobs available include sales representatives, caregivers, certified nursing assistants, night janitorial staff, instructors, agents and others.

Continue reading →

Idaho’s agricultural landowners are getting older

The population of those 65 and over continues to increase in the counties of Idaho that contain a large amount of agricultural land. As a result, older Idahoans who own this land are at a crossroads of whether to pass it to a successor or sell it when they can no longer tend to it themselves.

Idaho’s landownership

The seven largest private commercial landowning organizations or individuals in the state account for 6% of the total private land, with an estimated 1.8 million total acres in land usage for farming, ranching or logging [1]. The other 70.4% is public land. Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic activity, July 2025

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of July and includes 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 and Shoshone counties

Regional news

Kootenai County

  • Construction is underway on a large new mixed-use project in Post Falls. Named ‘Nonna,’ the project includes a 50,000 square-foot building with four stories, including commercial space on the ground floor and 33 apartment units on the upper three levels. Commercial tenants will include a ground-floor brunch restaurant. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A new food truck court, called Eats On Spokane Street, is open in Post Falls. The location includes a new open-air building which houses MelFit Healthy Kitchen and Nachos Cantina, with four food trucks including Charcuteria, Angel’s Eats and Treats, Woody’s Smoked Salmon and Taco Works. There are three remaining spaces for additional food trucks. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Continue reading →

Labor law posters available online for Idaho businesses

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 28, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho businesses are again being solicited by private companies to pay for required labor law posters that the Idaho Department of Labor provides online for free.

Employers are required to place the legally mandated posters on safety, wages and discrimination in the workplace where they can easily be seen by employees.

Continue reading →

Labor defines key terms for unemployment insurance

Are you currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits and are confused by some of the terms?

Below is an alphabetical list of common terms to help you understand your benefits with resources to learn more.

Appeal
An appeal is a request to have the Idaho Department of Labor look at your determination again and reconsider your situation. Learn more.

Base period
A base period is your wages from four (4) quarters of a calendar year. There are two types of base period used by the department when reviewing your wages, described below:

  • Regular base period: Your wage information from the first four (4) of the last five (5) completed calendar quarters.
  • Alternative base period: Your wage information from the last four (4) completed calendar quarters.

Continue reading →

Idaho’s unemployment rate remains at 3.6% in June

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2025
Media Contact: John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between May and June, remaining at 3.6%.

June’s labor force decreased by 541 people (-0.1%) to 1,010,662 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.1 percentage point between May and June, down to 63.4%.
Total employment decreased by 426 to 973,958 and unemployment decreased by 115 (-0.3%) to 36,704.

Continue reading →

From cashier to medical biller, the Idaho Department of Labor helped youth participant achieve career goals

Twenty-five-year-old Lewiston resident Madison Elzea was a cashier and registrar, until she got diagnosed with a chronic pain condition. This diagnosis had Elzea adjust and make some career changes to fit her new lifestyle.

In order to make those changes a reality, Elzea approached the Idaho Department of Labor in Lewiston for extra support. The department was recommended from a friend that had a positive experience in the jumpstart program for workforce training. The youth program offers education, training and employment opportunities to out-of-school youth ages 16 to 24.

Madison Elzea in her graduate attire

Graduate from Lewis Clark State College, Madison Elzea, stands proudly from her accomplishment.

“I pursued the youth program to go back to school, so I could be eligible for more specialized positions rather than customer service,” Elzea said.

Elzea wanted to transition into the medical field and work in an office environment rather than customer service and wasn’t sure where to start. She expressed that people who are interested in going into this field, preferably need an education.

To make that dream a reality, the department connected her to attend Lewis Clark State College to obtain her certificate in medical billing.

Continue reading →

Labor economist to explore Idaho’s demographics and population projections in July webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2025
Media Contact: Samuel.Wokenhauer@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Sam Wolkenhauer will discuss Idaho’s demographics and new population projections at a webinar Tuesday, July 22.

“Idaho continues to run contrary to the national trend of flatlining population growth and is one of the fastest growing states,” Wolkenhauer said. “There are a lot of variances within Idaho’s population growth, both in terms of which counties are growing and the age structure of the population.”

Continue reading →

Nampa Public Library and Idaho Department of Labor hosts Second Annual Hiring and Resource Fair, July 21

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is cohosting a hiring and resource fair with the Nampa Public Library on Monday, July 21, from noon to 3 p.m.

The event takes place at the Nampa Public Library located at 215 12th Ave. St.

“In addition to job and resource booths, attendees will hear from local and state government speakers, including a featured session with an economist from the department sharing insights on Idaho’s economic outlook,” Workforce Consultant Traci Petitt said. “Whether you’re looking for a new opportunity or supportive services, this event offers something for everyone in our community.”

Job seekers will have an opportunity to meet with many employers to discuss job openings including the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Bogus Basin, City of Nampa, Papa Murphy’s, Idaho Association of General Contractors, Durham School Services and more.

Continue reading →