Category Archives: News Releases

70+ Employers to Participate in Caldwell Outdoor Hiring Event May 19

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 5, 2021
Media Contact: Robert Vetter, Robert.Vetter@labor.idaho.gov or Elizabeth Anzaldua, Elizabeth.Anzaldua@labor.idaho.gov

More than 70 Idaho employers representing a variety of industries will be looking for employees for more than 2,200 jobs at Idaho Labor’s All-Star outdoor hiring event. It is sponsored in partnership with the city of Caldwell.

The event takes place Wednesday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the GALS Quad softball fields, 4700 Skyway St., in Caldwell.

The first half hour is dedicated to military veterans.

Participating employers such as Amazon, St. Luke’s and Capitol Distributing are looking for warehouse associates, electrical engineers, certified medical assistants, customer service reps, food plan operators, maintenance technicians, superintendents, fork lift drivers, custodians, landscapers and more.

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Claimants must look for work to receive unemployment benefits

**2024 Update: Work search requirements have changed since 2021. For updated information, please review this article.  

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2021
Media Contacts: Georgia Smith, Georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

Pre-pandemic work search requirements for unemployment insurance claimants will be reinstated starting Sunday, April 25.

Idaho has returned to low unemployment levels with 3.2% for March 2021 after hitting an all-time high 11.6% seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in April 2020. Idaho set the pace for the nation in its economic rebound from the pandemic and was the first state to experience year-to-year job growth.

The work search requirement means Idahoans who are out of work and collecting unemployment benefits will need to look for full-time employment unless they are returning to work with their employer within 16 weeks of their layoff date or are an active member of a work referral union. This is not a new requirement; rather a return to the process from before the pandemic.

Claimants who do not meet their work search requirements will not receive unemployment benefits for the week claimed. Approximately 4,500 claimants will be impacted by this change.

The work search requirements apply to regular and federal CARES Act unemployment insurance programs. Claimants – including self-employed individuals – need to report two work search contacts on their weekly certification application. These work search contacts cannot be self-employment or 1099 gig work.

The most common valid work-search activity is to apply for a job with an application, resume or cover letter. Employment services may also count as valid work search activities. These include setting up an in-person or phone appointment with a Labor workforce consultant for help with interview skills and resumes, on-the-job training, apprenticeships and virtual workshops or job fairs.

Job seekers can get connected with a workforce consultant in their area by filling out this form. Information on upcoming job fairs and workshops can be found on the Labor website calendar of events.

Learn more about Idaho’s work search requirements on the Labor website.

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Discovering What Idaho’s Youth Need to Succeed at Work

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 16, 2021
Media Contact: Georgia Smith, georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is asking Idaho youth between the ages 16-24 who are out of school to talk about what they need to succeed in the workplace.

Participants will share their thoughts during six focus group sessions scheduled for April 19-30 at local Labor offices and several postsecondary schools throughout the state.

The results will be used to improve the recruitment and service delivery methods for youth employment and training programs funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

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Idaho’s March Unemployment Rate Down to 3.2%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 16, 2021
Media Contacts: Karen Jarboe Singletary, karen.jarboesingletary@labor.idaho.gov or Salvador Vazquez, salvador.vazquez@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.2% in March, dropping slightly from a revised 3.3% in February.

With an over-the-month increase of 1,100 jobs, the state’s nonfarm payroll growth has leveled off over the past two months.

Civilian Labor Force

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force was virtually unchanged in March at 899,375, down from 899,915 in February.

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Multi-Employer Job Fair Set for April 15 in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2021
Media Contacts: Anthony DeVille, Anthony.deville@labor.idaho.gov or Julie Sherry, Julie.sherry@labor.idaho.gov

Employers representing a variety of industries are among those looking for workers at a job fair on Thursday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, Boise Spectrum at 7699 W. Spectrum St. in Boise.

Participating employers include Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Autovol, Sorrento Lactalis, AT&T, Albertsons, Express Employment Professionals, Amazon, Atlas Staffing, Bluebird Carwash, Paradies Lagardere Travel Retail, World Connect, Community Partnerships of Idaho, Hearthside Food Solutions and many more.

Some of the open positions include production operator, sanitation operator, customer service representatives, direct support professionals, behavioral health specialists and skilled construction trades, such as electricians, drywall hangers, roofers and framers.

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ID.me Helps Stop Unemployment Insurance Fraud

by Idaho Department of Labor Director Jani Revier

Crime rings across the globe are exploiting the COVID-19 crisis by attempting to commit large-scale fraud against multiple state unemployment insurance programs, and Idaho is not exempt.

These crime rings possess large databases of stolen personally identifiable information which is used to submit a large volume of applications for unemployment benefits. Scammers use the names and addresses of Idaho residents, but then have payments sent to bank accounts in other states or have bank cards mailed to different addresses.

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Serve Idaho Celebrates Impact of National Service

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 6 2021
Media Contacts: Renee Bade, renee.bade@labor.idaho.gov or Micaela de Loyola-Carkin, Micaela.deloyola-carkin@labor.idaho.gov

Serve Idaho joins leaders across the country in the ninth annual National Service Recognition Day, a nationwide bipartisan initiative to highlight the impact of national service in tackling local problems. The event was established to recognize the positive impact of national service, to thank those who serve and to encourage more citizens to give back to their communities.

This year’s event is especially meaningful as tens of thousands of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors members have supported communities in response to the pandemic and other challenges during the past year. National service members and volunteers across the nation continue to help distribute vaccines, work at food banks, support tutoring initiatives, safely get students back in the classroom and support isolated seniors.

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Idaho’s February Unemployment Rate Down to 3.3%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 26, 2021
Media Contacts: Craig Shaul, craig.shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen Jarboe Singletary, karen.jarboesingletary@labor.idaho.gov

 Year-to-year nonfarm employment growth of 1% leads nation

February’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3%, down slightly from a revised 3.5% in January.

Idaho’s nonfarm payrolls edged upward by 1,200, leveling off after January’s gain of 4,500.

Civilian Labor Force

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force remained virtually unchanged in February at 899,796, down from 900,205 in January.

The total number of working Idahoans increased by 912 in February to 870,056.

The number of unemployed Idahoans dropped 4.5% to 29,740.

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Idaho’s January Unemployment Rate Down to 3.4%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 15, 2021
Media Contacts: Craig Shaul, craig.shaul@labor.idaho.gov, or Karen Jarboe Singletary, karen.jarboesingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Total nonfarm jobs up 1.1% over last year 

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.4% in January, down slightly from a revised 3.8% rate for December, and well below April 2020’s revised historic high of 11.6%.

Revisions made to Idaho’s 2020 unemployment rate are the result of an annual benchmarking process conducted each year by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Civilian Labor Force

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force went virtually unchanged in January at 900,205, up 1.1% (+10,015) over its revised pre-pandemic level in March of 2020.

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Labor Department Unveils New Look for IdahoWorks Website

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2021
Media Contact: Darlene Carnopis, Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor’s website to connect job seekers with employers has a new look.

IdahoWorks.gov customers will find:

  • Contemporary new design.
  • More intuitive workflows which means fewer clicks to find what you need.
  • New components for better usability ‒ easier and improved login process.
  • Improved accessibility.
  • Updated job and resume search which delivers more information at a glance to users and includes tags for wages, education and experience requirements and remote work opportunities.
  • Updated resume pages with improved navigation, clear instructions, better wizards.
  • Improved mobile-friendly design.
  • Reorganized employer registration with clear notifications and instructions, improved navigation.

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