Category Archives: News Releases

Northern Idaho event will feature hiring employers and resources

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 9, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event and resource fair Tuesday, July 14, at North Idaho College.

The address is 495 N. College Dr.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including Coeur d’Alene Public Schools, Heritage Health, Idaho Division of Veterans Services, North Idaho College, Northwest Traffic Control LLC, SAGE Truck Driving Schools, Silverlake Automotive, Spokane Produce and more.

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Learn about the past 100 years of Idaho employment at Labor webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 7, 2026
Media Contact: Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Lisa Grigg will compare and contrast how economic factors in the 1920s and 2020s have structurally shaped Idaho employment in a webinar, Tuesday, July 14.

“Both of these eras – 100 years apart – highlight how Idaho’s labor market has adapted to significant technological shifts and external labor shocks,” Grigg said. “Many decisions in the 1920s surrounding the state’s natural resources and occupational roles laid important cornerstones for the labor market of today.”

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Department of Labor names new economist for southwestern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov

Knox Freedman headshotKnox Freedman is the new Idaho Department of Labor regional labor economist for southwestern Idaho, covering Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties. He replaces the previous economist, Jan Roeser.

Freedman earned two bachelor’s of business administration degrees in economics and finance from Idaho State University in 2022. After being in the workforce, he decided to return to school and earned a master’s degree in economics at Boise State University (BSU) in 2025.

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Nampa Public Library and Idaho Department of Labor hosts Third Annual Hiring and Resource Fair

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2026
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 Thursday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Job seekers will have an opportunity to meet with many employers to discuss job openings including Autozone Auto Parts, City of Boise, City of Nampa, CS Beef Packers, Gem County, Idaho Air National Guard, Idaho Central Credit Union, Idaho Public Television, Lactalis American Group, Simplot and more.

The positions available range from excavation operators, skilled trade technicians, maintenance technicians, heavy equipment operators, certified nursing assistants, bus drivers, customer service specialists and others.

Community resources attending include Advocates Against Family Violence, Glocal Friend Partner, Icarus Wellness and Recovery, Nampa Family Personal Center, Valley Regional Transit and more.

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Idaho’s May unemployment rate increases to 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased between April and May, from 3.6% to 3.7%.

May’s labor force decreased by 1,203 (-0.1%) people to 1,002,324 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between April and May, down to 62.0%.

Total employment decreased by 1,349 (-0.1%) to 965,666 and unemployment increased by 146 (0.4%) to 36,658. Continue reading →

Around 25 employers will attend hiring event in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 17, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Thursday, June 25, at the State of Idaho Chinden Campus in Boise. The address is 11351 W. Chinden Blvd.

The event is from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the conference room of Building 6.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including the Ada County Highway District, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, BME Fire Trucks, Boise State University, City of Boise, Idaho Transportation Department, St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, Victory EMS & Medical Transportation and others.

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Labor adds new mobile location in south central Idaho starting June 29

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 16, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Starting Monday, June 29, a new Idaho Department of Labor mobile location in Burley will open in south central Idaho. The location will be at the Burley Public Library — making 22 mobile locations available across Idaho.

The expansion will provide more options for residents to use Labor’s services in the south central region, such as helping with writing resumes, applying for jobs, prepping for interviews and filing for unemployment insurance benefits. Additionally, job training and other community resources are available.

Services for businesses are also available. This includes helping businesses with listing jobs, recruiting employees, organizing hiring events and providing access to job training programs.

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Hiring event in Coeur d’Alene showcases a variety of positions

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, June 10, at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The address is 702 E. Front Ave.

The event is from noon to 3 p.m.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including Coeur d’Alene Public Schools, Environmental Control, Kootenai County, North Idaho Dental Personnel, North Idaho College – Workforce Training, The Post Falls Veterans Home, Republic Services and more.

Open positions available include caregivers, mentors, deputy sheriffs, park rangers, therapists, nursing assistants, Commercial Driver’s License drivers and others.

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Learn about the job outlook for recent graduates at Labor webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2026
Media Contact: Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Seth Harrington will be talking about the factors that have brought the highest unemployment rate among young college graduates over the past decade (excluding the pandemic) during a webinar Tuesday, June 9.

Several factors will be discussed in the context of these hiring challenges, including whether Artificial Intelligence is playing a major role in the labor market for new graduates. Trends will also be shown from a nationwide perspective.

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Meet employers and apply for various jobs at Idaho Falls hiring event

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 3, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, June 10, at the department’s Idaho Falls office. The address is 1515 E. Lincoln Road.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including Cives Steel Company, Idaho Central Credit Union, Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, Idaho National Laboratory, Lamb Weston, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Teton Stage Lines and more.

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