Category Archives: Employers

Webinar spotlights two decades of economic change in rural Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 12, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a webinar focusing on the past 20 years of growth in rural Idaho, Tuesday, Nov. 18.

“Idaho’s population has grown three times as fast as the U.S. This webinar will bring together rural voices and community leaders to speak in detail about their experiences as rural residents,” Labor Market Research Manager Craig Shaul said.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT.

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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.

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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.”

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Labor economists to discuss rural Idaho’s economy at webinar June 17

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economists Lisa Grigg, Brandon Duong and Sam Wolkenhauer will discuss rural Idaho’s economy at a webinar Tuesday, June 17. The webinar takes place from 11 a.m. to noon MT over Zoom.

“This webinar is a unique opportunity to discuss the economic successes and challenges of rural Idaho,” Wolkenhauer said.

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Idaho’s smallest businesses fuel post-pandemic employer growth

A man working at a bicycle shop

Over the past few years, Idaho has reported one of the highest growth rates for both population and employment. The state has also seen high levels of business startups, driven by a historically large increase in small employer establishments, those with fewer than five employees on payroll.

Idaho employer establishments with fewer than five employees accounted for 73% of all employment establishments in 2023 and comprised 86% of total employer establishment growth over the past five-year period from 2018-2023. These small employers had both the fastest establishment growth rate statewide of all firm sizes and also increased their contribution of statewide covered employment from 8% in 2018 to 10% in 2023.

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Idaho retail industry navigates fast-approaching holiday season

With the holiday season approaching, many Idahoans wonder what recent trends in retail might impact spending and employment this year. Historically, retail has been an enormous revenue source for the U.S. economy.

In 2023, retail sales made up 5.9% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) [5]. The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts holiday retail sales for the U.S. will increase between 2.5% and 3.5% or about $979 to $989 billion. The importance of holiday purchases for Idaho, cannot be understated as retail accounted for 8% of its gross regional product at $9 billion according to Lightcast data.

For Idaho and the U.S., there is a close relationship between inflation and sales, both of which have slowed down. Notably, recent trends indicate a slowdown in employment within the retail sector. A detailed examination of sales reveals these interconnections.

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Idaho Department of Labor survey seeks responses from businesses

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 23, 2024
Media Contact: Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov or Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

The department is seeking responses for its second annual Idaho Business Climate Survey. The survey launches the week of Aug. 28. Businesses selected to participate will have two weeks to respond.

“The survey allows the department to provide real-time data on the current state of businesses in Idaho,” Labor Economist Seth Harrington said. “Businesses also share their voice on the benefits and challenges of doing business in the state.”

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Webinar will teach businesses about unemployment insurance benefits, Aug. 28

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 21, 2024
Media Contact: Clinton.Renn@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho businesses and employers are invited to learn about unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the Idaho Department of Labor during a free Zoom webinar Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. MDT.

The webinar featuring UI Support Analysts Louie Downey and Justin Pinter, will cover the claim filing process, what happens when a claimant quits or is fired and how to protect an account from charges.

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How rising temperatures impact Idaho workers

In July, Idaho endured multiple days of excessive heat watch warnings as relentless triple-digit temperatures baked parts of the state. While the sun invites beaches and summer fun, working outside in the heat can pose health and safety risks.

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In 2023, 207 deaths in the U.S. were attributed to heat-related causes — over two times the rate of people killed by rip currents, the second-most prevalent category as reported by Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics. Since heat does not require the presence of any particular geographic feature, it affects larger populations. According to Weather.gov’s Hazard Heat Report, none of the heat-related fatalities that occurred in 2023 were in Idaho; deaths mostly took place in the sun belt states like Arizona (100 deaths) and Nevada (33 deaths).

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, June 2024

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of June 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

Region

  • Family Promise of North Idaho was awarded a $15,000 grant from Clayton and Family Promise National to help families facing homelessness stay in their homes and work toward stability. Source: the Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Innovia Foundation awarded $330,000 to 34 northern Idaho organizations to assist with local opportunities for education and youth development, health, well-being and arts and culture. Benewah County received three awards, Bonner received 12, Boundary received three, Kootenai received 12 and Shoshone received four. Source: Innovia Foundation

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