Author Archives: Idaho Department of Labor

About Idaho Department of Labor

Our vision is to be Idaho’s first choice for employment services. We connect job seekers with Idaho employers, deliver employment services to Idaho businesses and support people during career and life transitions.

120+ Idaho Employers will be Hiring in Caldwell on June 23

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 22, 2021
Media Contact: Robert Vetter, Robert.Vetter@labor.idaho.gov

More than 120 Idaho employers with nearly 3,500 jobs to fill are participating in an outdoor hiring event in Caldwell tomorrow, June 23.

The four-hour event starts at 9:30 a.m. and will run until 1:30 p.m. at the G.A.L.S. Quad softball fields, 4700 Skyway St., in Caldwell. The first half hour is dedicated to veterans and their spouses.

Among employers attending are the cities of Caldwell and Nampa, Boise State University, Amazon, CS Beef, Admiral Beverage Corporation (Pepsi), Ford Idaho Center – Spectra, Knife River, the Community Council of Idaho and more.

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Idaho’s May Unemployment Rate Drops to 3%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2021
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Salvador Vazquez, Salvador.Vazquez@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 3.1% in April to 3% for May.

Total employment grew to 874,143, up 0.2% (+1,978), while total unemployment dropped 3% (-865) to 27,351.

May’s labor force and steady participation rate continued to benefit from population increases. Idaho’s labor force grew by one-tenth of a percent to 901,494, marking two consecutive months of gains. The labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 62.7%.

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Nominations Open for Idaho’s Outstanding Volunteers and Philanthropists

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 14, 2021
Media Contact: Renee Bade, renee.bade@labor.idaho.gov

Nominations for the annual Idaho Philanthropy Day awards are now open. Each year, Idaho volunteers and philanthropists are honored for outstanding contributions to their communities. Three regional virtual events will take place in November to recognize winners from eastern, northern and southwestern Idaho.

Idaho Philanthropy Day logo“Idaho’s volunteers provide enormous benefits to our people and communities across the state. It is important that we take the time to recognize those individuals who give so much back to our state by volunteering their time and talent to improve the lives of those around them,” Idaho Gov. Brad Little said.

The program organizers, Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, and the Idaho Nonprofit Center, encourage community members to nominate their neighbors online at IdahoNonprofits.org. Submissions will be accepted through July 19, 2021. Categories include:

      • Outstanding Philanthropic Company/Foundation
      • Outstanding Nonprofit
      • Outstanding Adult Philanthropist
      • Outstanding Adult Volunteer – Idaho’s Brightest Star
      • Outstanding Youth

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Scammers Target Idahoans with Fake Unemployment Text Messages

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 14, 2021
Media Contacts: Joshua McKenna, joshua.mckenna@labor.idaho.gov or Georgia Smith, georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is reminding Idahoans to be alert for a text messaging scam involving unemployment insurance claims.

Individual personal information has been compromised, hacked or breached by fraudsters in a large-scale nationwide scam involving phony texts about unemployment insurance.

If you receive a text with a link regarding unemployment insurance, disregard the text and do not click on the link. A fraudster has obtained – or stolen – your telephone number and is most likely using it to access unemployment benefits and steal your personal information. The text states your Idaho unemployment insurance claim is on hold for verification and instructs you to click on a link to reactivate your benefits. This text is a scam and should be deleted immediately.

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Idaho’s Rural-to-Urban Population Shift Continued in 2020

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:  June 11, 2021
Media Contact: Kathryn Tacke, (208) 799-5000 ext. 3984 or Craig Shaul, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201

Idaho’s urban areas continue to see significant population growth according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s recently released city population estimates for 2020.  

The Gem State had the fastest growing population in the nation — up 2.1% — between 2019 and 2020, with much of the growth occurring in Idaho’s urban areas. Nationwide, there are 3,093 cities with populations larger than 10,000. When those cities are ranked based on their percentage growth between 2019 and 2020, eight of the top 200 fastest-growing cities are in Idaho — Kuna (43), Post Falls (46), Star (55), Eagle (65), Meridian (70), Nampa (151) Ammon (167) and Caldwell (171) — all with growth rates ranging from 7.5% to 3.5%.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in May 2021

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

  • The Coeur d’Alene School District delayed the opening of a new planned magnet school until the 2022-2023 school year. District officials cited financial constraints as the reason. The magnet school will offer a hybrid learning model with a community service focus. Roughly 200 students are already enrolled in the school. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A new four-story mixed commercial and residential building will be built in Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone development. The building will include office spaces on the first floor with condo units on the higher floors. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Kootenai County’s Community Development office produced a 22-page report on potential growth management strategies and is seeking public comments and participation. Kootenai County has been growing by roughly 2.5% per year over the last decade, and the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization projects that the population of the county will grow by more than 130,000 by 2040. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

Openings in Coeur d’Alene

    • Terraza Waterfront Café.
    • The Fixture Gallery.
    • BidMore2Win Auctions.
    • Gas and Grain.
    • CDA Cremation & Funeral.
    • Cranberry Road Winery. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
    • Blue Shell Game Bar. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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

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HCL America Inc. – Idaho Workers May Qualify for Training and Services Under Trade Act

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2021
Media Contact: Georgia Smith georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

Employees of HCL America Inc. – Idaho who have or will become totally or partially separated from employment at HCL America Inc. on or after Dec. 24, 2019, and before April 14, 2023, may be eligible for re-employment services under the federal Trade Act.

Former or current workers eligible to apply must be or have been engaged in the supply of engineering, research and development and digital process operation.

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Idaho Veteran Census Data Important for Providing Services

Idaho is home to an estimated 116,157 veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey1. That translates to a 9.1% share of the state’s overall population of individuals 18 years and older compared with the nation’s 18,230,322 veterans at a share of 7.3% of total population 18 years and older.

Data on where veterans and other characteristics are gathered for myriad reasons:

  • State and federal officials determine how and where to provide government services to assist veterans in all aspects of returning to civilian life. Some veterans find their specific jobs in the military do not transition to the civilian workforce, such as personnel who load armaments or who are involved in large-scale field logistics. At the county and state government levels, staff are assigned to help veterans find jobs, provide college and career counseling and making sure they understand their military benefits. Some federal jobs provide preference to veteran hiring by giving additional points to a job application. It is helpful to have someone who knows how to help newly-separated military veterans navigate these benefits.
  • It helps to know where veterans are living, so when Veteran Administration officials decide where to locate clinics, hospitals and long-term care facilities, they are placed in a centralized spot for access.
  • Many private employers prefer to hire veterans based on the levels of discipline and training that translates to resilience and solid work ethic.

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Labor Direct Job Referral Program Begins June 1

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 28, 2021
Media Contact: Georgia Smith, georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

A new Department of Labor referral program will result in more customized matches between job seekers and Idaho employers.

Starting June 1, department workforce consultants will refer qualified unemployment insurance claimants to job openings posted on IdahoWorks, the state’s job search engine, during one-on-one meetings.

Claimants will be referred to the job openings based on their skills and experience – and they must apply to fill the vacancy within two business days to remain eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

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Idaho Job Corps Celebrates First Graduating Class

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 21, 2021
Media Contact: Tina Polishchuk, tina.polishchuk@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Job Corps will celebrate its first graduates of 2020 and 2021, Monday, May 24, from 3:30-5:30 p.m., on the grounds of the Centennial Job Corps center, 3201 Ridgeview Drive in Nampa.

Monday’s graduation ceremonies will honor 22 students who accomplished their personal career goals by completing high school, earning their GED or receiving a skills certificate for an in-demand occupation like welding or phlebotomy.

Locally, the Idaho Department of Labor partners with the College of Western Idaho to deliver education, training and a whole host of wrap-around services to low-income students with barriers to employment.

Jayson, Jeremy and Braden (holding certificates) are part of a second class of students to become certified welders.

The Idaho Job Corps program is also available at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and the College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls.

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