Category Archives: News Releases

Serve Idaho announces $375,000 in funding for AmeriCorps planning grants

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 5, 2022
Media Contact: Renee Bade, renee.bade@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho nonprofit, educational, community and faith-based organizations, Indian tribes and local governments are eligible to apply for federal funding through Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

A maximum of five organizations will receive funding up to $75,000 each for planning grants to explore the feasibility of operating an AmeriCorps program. These funds allow time and financial resources for organizations to determine how an AmeriCorps program and its members could help solve community problems. Priority will be given to organizations focusing on education, housing and serving rural communities, but all eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Interested organizations must file a notice of intent to apply for a grant by 4 p.m. MDT on Aug. 15. The intent to apply form can be found at https://serve.idaho.gov/grantsfunding/. A mandatory technical assistance call will be held Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. MDT.

The deadline to submit the grant application is Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. MDT.

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Idaho’s June unemployment rate remains at 2.5%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 22, 2022
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.5% in June, unchanged from May and remaining at a historic low.Idaho map-unemployment rates by county

The number of Idahoans employed or looking for work grew by 5,190 people (0.6%) to 948,576. Labor force participation increased by 0.1 percentage points between May and June to 62.5%. Idaho’s peak participation rate reached 71.4% in September 1998.

June’s labor force growth was caused by increases in both employed and unemployed persons. Total employment grew by 4,807 (0.5%) to 924,605 while total unemployment increased by 383 (1.6%) to 23,971.

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Nampa career fair offers open jobs, information on paid training for skilled trades

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2022
Media Contact: Monico.Sanchez@labor.idaho.gov

Open job opportunities in skilled trades and funding information to help people pay for required training will be available at a career and job fair Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at the College of Western Idaho Micron Education Center, 5725 E. Franklin Road, Nampa.

Among the 25 employers participating in the half-day event are Guerdon, Knife River Corp., Mountain West Division, Idaho Milk Transport, NxEdge, Tradesmen International and Darigold-Idaho. These companies and a dozen more want to hire and train carpenters, roofers, electricians, bridge workers, apprentices, machinists and several other tradespeople.

Funding is available to help pay for training through programs like Idaho Launch (idaholaunch.com), which offers qualified applicants 90% of tuition costs for approved programs.

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Governor Little appoints commissioners to Serve Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 5, 2022
Media Contact: Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov

Gov. Brad Little appointed two new commissioners to Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. The new commissioners are April Durrant of Boise and Rebecca Wood of Richfield.

Photo: April DurrantPhoto: Rebecca WoodThese two join the existing commission of 13 governor-appointed commissioners whose mission is “to inspire and recognize volunteers and empower communities through service and AmeriCorps to solve Idaho’s unmet needs.”

“We are excited to welcome the newest commissioners who have a passion and long history with volunteerism and national service in Idaho,” said Renee Bade, program manager for Serve Idaho.

Durrant was appointed by Gov. Little to fill the role of an individual with experience in promoting the involvement of older adults in service and volunteerism. An AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) alum, she currently works as a senior program analyst for the Idaho HUD office. She previously worked for the federal agency AmeriCorps where she served as the Idaho state director overseeing AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps VISTA programming for the state. She previously served as an ex-officio member on the commission and brings a long-time passion for AmeriCorps and volunteerism. Continue reading →

Idaho’s 2021 wages average $23.05 per hour

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 30, 2022
Media Contact: Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s 2021 average wage for all occupations was $23.05 per hour, according to recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. The release includes 2021 data on employment and wages by occupation for the state, seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and two rural county regions.

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Idaho’s May Unemployment Rate Falls to Historic Low of 2.5%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 17, 2022
Media Contacts: Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov or Salvador.Vazquez@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.5% in May, down from April’s rate of 2.6%. May’s rate marks the fourth consecutive month of historic lows since record keeping began in 1976.

Idaho map-county unemployment rates May 20223=The number of Idahoans employed or looking for work grew by 6,373 people (0.7%) to 943,390. Labor force participation increased by 0.3 percentage points between April and May to 62.4%. Idaho’s peak participation rate reached 71.4% in September 1998.

Total employment grew from April by 6,823 (0.7%) to 919,785 while total unemployment dropped by 450 (-1.9%) to 23,605.

According to Help Wanted Online, there were 63,998 online job postings in Idaho during May, or 2.7 job openings for every unemployed Idahoan looking for work.

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Twin Falls event combines community engagement and career exploration

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 14, 2022
Media Contact: Kent.Oltrogge@labor.idaho.gov

An event June 18 at Twin Falls City Park, located at 400 Shoshone St., E., will showcase area community organizations to encourage engagement with residents while providing information on potential careers.

The Community Engagement and Career Event, hosted by the Idaho Department of Labor, runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will involve local and state government agencies, nonprofits, first responders and community providers. 

Among first responders will be Magic Valley Paramedics, the city of Twin Falls Police and Fire departments, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office and Twin Falls Search and Rescue Team. Some of the equipment they use will be on display, such as an ambulance, a ropes rescue vehicle, police, sheriff and fire vehicles. Continue reading →

Local employers to fill open jobs at Caldwell June 16 summer job fair

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 13, 2022
Media Contact: Monico.Sanchez@labor.idaho.gov

People looking for a new job or career change can explore immediate openings with more than 50 local employers at Caldwell’s summer job fair. The event – hosted by the Idaho Department of Labor – is set for Thursday, June 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at its Caldwell office, 4514 Thomas Jefferson St.

Employers will be trying to fill job openings such as caregivers, general laborers, registered nurses, teachers, drivers, welders, assemblers, office staff, sales representatives, managers, warehouse workers and more.

Participating employers include Saint Alphonsus, D & B Supply, Amazon, Amalgamated Sugar, Northwest Traffic Services, Franz Bakery, the Treasure Valley YMCA, local staffing agencies and more. For a full list of employers, visit Labor’s calendar of events.

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Labor employment services now available in more than 20 southwestern Idaho mobile locations

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 13, 2022
Media Contact: jill.kleist@labor.idaho.gov

Idahoans living in remote, rural areas in southwestern Idaho can now get help finding a job in 21 Idaho Department of Labor mobile locations throughout southwestern Idaho.

Customized services like help finding a new job, access to training resources or landing a job that pays well can now be found in rural communities like Cascade, Council, Eagle, Emmett, Garden City, Garden Valley, Glenns Ferry, Grand View, Horseshoe Bend, Kuna, McCall, Meridian, Middleton, Midvale, Mountain Home, New Meadows, Payette, Star, Weiser as well as two locations in Boise.

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2021 Census estimates show Idaho’s urban cities continue to see population gains

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2022
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov or Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov

Four southwestern Idaho cities ranked in the top five slots for population growth in the state from 2020 to 2021 according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 Vintage Population Estimates.* Idaho Falls, ranked fourth and was the lone city outside of southwestern Idaho to rank in the top five.

Boise remained Idaho’s largest city, followed by Meridian, Nampa, Idaho Falls and Caldwell. Meridian edged out Nampa as Idaho’s second largest city in 2014 with the population difference increasing each year. Rankings for the top 15 Idaho cities by population size are shown in Table 1, with one change from 2020 — Kuna displaced Moscow for the No.13 spot.

Nationally, Meridian, Caldwell and Nampa ranked 13, 14 and 15 of the fastest-growing cities of 50,000 residents or more across the U.S., each at or above 5% growth rate.

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