Category Archives: Businesses

Idaho’s agricultural evolution: Insights from the U.S. Census

*The charts in this article, except for the H2A chart, are sourced by the U.S. Census of Agriculture*

Idaho’s agricultural roots run deep, with certain regions of the state maintaining this traditional economic base within the broader sector of agri-business.

According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture’s 2022 data, Idaho lost 2,119 farms and 144,000 acres of farmland between 2017 and 2022. While this sounds alarming, it’s important to understand Idaho’s industries usually follow national trends.

For example, it is important to note Idaho’s neighbors and the nation all followed the same downward trend of reductions in farms with a higher number of contiguous states losing ground by a greater ratio, as shown in Figure 1. The argument can be made that production is not dropping, rather agriculture is following the route of manufacturing and producing more with less.

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Returning to the workforce: Apprenticeships help pave the way

The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) “envisions a safer Idaho with fewer people in the correctional system” according to its mission statement.

To help incarcerated people find work, the agency is hosting job fairs for prison residents who will be released in the next six months. The first job fair will take place in July, with more planned for the near future.

Through her work as Apprenticeship Program Coordinator for IDOC, Crystal Robles, sees how incarcerated people want to improve their lives. As a way to encourage this behavior, she decided to coordinate with prison staff to host job fairs.

“I see a lot of people that came into the prison at a very young age. These are individuals that were 19 or 20 and made a bad choice,” Robles said. “Now after 10 or 20 years of being incarcerated, they are being released as a different person with training and education.”

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U.S. Census of Agriculture data to be presented at webinar, June 11

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2024
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture’s 2022 data, released in February, Idaho has lost 2,119 farms, or 8.5% of its total farms, between 2017 and 2022.

Idaho’s contiguous states have also lost farm operations, most to a greater degree than Idaho. Among border states, only Oregon and Utah lost less farms than Idaho.

Idaho Department of Labor economist Jan Roeser will provide an overview of the data presented in a free webinar Tuesday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to noon MDT.

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SIDES E-Response saves employers time

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 3, 2024
Media Contact: Tyler.Smith@labor.idaho.gov

SIDES E-Response is a free, quick, accurate and secure way for employers to respond to unemployment insurance (UI) claim notices for laid-off or separated employees who file for unemployment benefits. The Idaho Department of Labor is encouraging Idaho employers to sign up.

When employers use SIDES (State Information Data Exchange System) to respond to information about a claim for unemployment insurance benefits filed by an employee, they play an important role in preventing and detect fraudulent claims according to SIDES Administrator Tyler Smith.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, March 2024

Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of March 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 and Kootenai counties

Figure 1.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, February 2024

Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of February 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
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties

Region

Labor demand in northern Idaho rose last month, with the number of open jobs increasing by nearly 40%. In total, there were 1,799 job postings in January 2024, according to data from the Conference Board, of which 1,474 were posted in Kootenai County. Registered nurses were the most in-demand occupation, followed by retail salespersons.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, January 2024

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 and Kootenai counties

Region

Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. In total, there were 1,305 job postings in December of 2023, according to data from the Conference Board, of which 1,064 were posted in Kootenai County. Registered nurses and retail salespeople were the most in-demand occupation.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, December 2023

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

Region

Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. In total, there were 1,341 job postings in northern Idaho in November 2023, according to data from the Conference Board, of which 1,130 were posted in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupation was retail salespersons, followed by registered nurses.

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Federal labor law posters available for FREE to Idaho businesses

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec. 20, 2023
Media Contact: Lindsay.Trombly@labor.idaho.gov

Many Idaho businesses don’t know the required labor law posters some companies try to sell them are available for download from the state and federal labor departments for free.

Several statutes and regulations enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor require employers to make labor law posters available to employees and/or post them in the workplace.

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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Idaho businesses focus on family with apprenticeship opportunities

Long-term staffing can be challenging for small family-owned Idaho businesses. Finding and hiring talent can also be a costly burden in a tight labor market. A fully trained candidate expects higher wages, and the cost to train a job candidate can be expensive.

Some Idaho businesses are turning to the Idaho Registered Apprenticeship program to train their children and keep the business in the family.

Aspen Air Design – Malad

Aspen Air Design has been in the HVAC business since 2008 and has locations in Idaho (Rexburg and Malad) as well as Utah.

As owner Virginia Edlefsen experienced hiring challenges, she noticed her 16-year-old grandson Leonardo Dirilo took interest in her business and decided to give him some valuable work experience as a Registered Apprentice.

“He’s handy with tools and he’s very mechanically inclined and likes to be working,” she said. “He likes to work, and the labor of it. He’s quite talented at building metal and putting things together. He’s a quick learner.”

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