Category Archives: News Releases

Idaho receives more than $3.9 million in funding for AmeriCorps programs

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 15, 2022
Media Contact: Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov

Nearly 345 AmeriCorps members will be supporting efforts to provide low-income access to health care, education and mental health services, and serving on environmental education and restoration projects throughout Idaho – all in the name of community service.

Logo: AmeriCorps IdahoIdaho’s AmeriCorps programs are funded by the federal agency AmeriCorps through Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. Serve Idaho recently received a $3,930,459 grant to fund the AmeriCorps programs from 2022 to 2023. AmeriCorps members give a year of intensive service on a full-time or part-time basis. Continue reading →

Lewiston career event provides resources for job seekers to upgrade their skills for in-demand jobs

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 15, 2022
Media Contact: Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov and Stacey.Wendt@labor.idaho.gov

Job seekers who want to change careers and increase their earning potential will be able learn about jobs and training resources available at an Aug. 18 skilled trades career event focusing on welding, plumbing, electrical and HVAC industries. The event takes place from 4-6 p.m., at the Idaho Department of Labor Lewiston office, 1158 Idaho St.

Attendees will learn about pay scales, work positions and requirements for their specific field of interest from others who work in these trades.

“This event is for people who are not college bound or feel like they can’t afford the training necessary to work in their chosen field,” said Misti Sullivan, Lewiston Labor office manager.

Electricians, welders, plumbers and HVAC professionals in the Lewiston Metro Area currently get paid higher than their counterparts in other areas of the state. Electricians earn on average, an annual average wage of $77,000, welders average $52,000 annually and plumbers average $57,000 per year. Continue reading →

Governor Little appoints leaders from Shoshone and Clayton to Serve Idaho Commission

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 12, 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 Karma Metzler Fitzgerald of Shoshone and Amanda Gardner of Clayton.

The two join the existing commission of 15 governor-appointed commissioners whose mission is “To inspire and recognize volunteers and empower communities through service and AmeriCorps to solve Idaho’s unmet needs.”

Photo: Karma Metzler Fitzgerald

Karma Metzler Fitzgerald

Photo: Amanda Gardner

Amanda Gardner

“Ms. Metzler Fitzgerald and Ms. Gardner bring a passion for volunteerism and AmeriCorps in their communities,” Serve Idaho Program Manager Renee Bade said. “We are excited to welcome them to the commission to share their expertise in advancing service across Idaho’s rural communities.”

Continue reading →

Multi-employer job fair set for Aug. 18 in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 12, 2022
Media Contact: Joe.Goitiandia@labor.idaho.gov

More than 30 Treasure Valley employers from several industries will be looking for workers at a job fair Thursday, Aug. 18, from 2 to 5 p.m. The event takes place at the Dick Eardley Senior Center, 690 N. Robbins Road, in Boise.

Participating employers include Amazon, Guerdon, City of Boise, Norco, St. Alphonsus, Darigold and many more.

Among the many open positions are paralegal, facility maintenance, operations supervisors, bus drivers, maintenance technicians, parks maintenance, financial analyst, housekeeping attendant, concierge, administrative assistant and marketing associate.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →