Category Archives: News Releases

Labor economists to discuss changes in Idaho’s rural demographics at webinar March 25

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 19, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Research Analyst Supervisor Craig Shaul and Labor Economists Jan Roeser and Seth Harrington will discuss changes over the past 20 years in the state’s rural demographics at a webinar Tuesday, March 25. The webinar takes place from 11 a.m. to noon MT over Zoom.

“Idaho has experienced impressive growth in the last 20 years,” Shaul said. “This webinar will take a detailed look at how the demographics of rural Idaho have changed during this time.”

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Idaho’s January unemployment rate remains at 3.8%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 17, 2025
Media Contact: will.winkle@labor.idaho.gov or craig.shaul@labor.idaho.gov

– State first in nation for over-the-year nonfarm job growth at 2.8% –

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 3.8%.

December 2024’s unemployment rate also remained the same at 3.8% after the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) annual benchmarking process. (More information about the benchmarking process can be found below.)

January’s labor force increased by 2,168 people (0.2%) to 1,011,937 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 63.9%. Continue reading →

Idaho’s most populated counties drive state’s growth

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2025
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s 44 counties grew by 1.5%, or over 30,497 new residents, between July 2023 and July 2024, according to recent U.S. Census population estimates. Higher population counties experienced more growth than rural areas, in line with a nationwide trend of metro areas seeing a resurgence after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, Idaho’s growth was more evenly dispersed across less populated rural counties and more populated urban counties.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought a rush of new residents to Idaho, particularly impacting rural areas of low population density that offered outdoor recreation,” said Labor Economist Jan Roeser. Continue reading →

LAUNCH workshop is available for graduating seniors, online, March 20

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is offering an online workshop, Thursday, March 20, to graduating high school senior students interested in applying to the LAUNCH career education grant program.

The workshop is from 5 to 7 p.m. MT and takes place via Microsoft Teams. Register at the department’s Eventbrite event page.

All students graduating in 2025 under the age of 21, including public, private, charter, homeschool and English as a second language students are welcome to attend.

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Hiring event in Coeur d’Alene will feature over 40 open jobs in northern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

A hiring event will be held Wednesday, March 12, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave.

Employers planning to attend include Gozzer Ranch, Coeur d’ Alene Public Schools, Integrated Interventions, Kootenai Health, NAPA Auto Parts, the Idaho Division of Veteran Services, Aerotek and more.

Open positions will be available for job seekers including sales representatives, manufacturers, bus drivers, teachers, camp counselors, registered nurses, financial coaches, designers — among others.

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Jobs available at career fair in Caldwell, March 6

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 28, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

A career fair for job seekers interested in working in the government sector, will be held Thursday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Idaho Department of Labor Caldwell office, 4514 Thomas Jefferson St.

Employers planning to attend include the State of Idaho, the Transportation Security Administration, the Idaho Veterans Care Facility, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Army and more.

A variety of open positions will be available including law enforcement, military and retirement care.

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Idaho sees increase in workplace fatalities in 2023

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 26, 2025
Media Contact: Therese.Schumacher@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho had 48 workplace fatalities in 2023 — a 23% increase from 2022 and the highest number of deaths in a single year in the past 10 years — according to the most recent Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) report on 2023 data.

The annual CFOI report documents fatal on-the-job injuries for workers — it does not include illnesses or preexisting conditions that caused a worker to die without an injury, such as COVID or a heart attack. Continue reading →

Hands-on training in heavy equipment operation available in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 26, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

Free training is available for Idahoans wanting to pursue a career in heavy equipment operation.

The Idaho Career Opportunities – Next in Construction (ICONIC) program is a path to a rewarding career in highway construction. Most graduates who participate in the program may go on to obtain their commercial driver’s license to operate heavy vehicles.

The five-week intensive course involves a mix of classroom and hands-on learning. The next training session takes place in Boise from April 7 to May 9.

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LAUNCH workshops are available for graduating students, Feb. 26, March 5 and 12 in eastern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 24, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is offering workshops in eastern Idaho to graduating students interested in applying to the LAUNCH career education grant program.

The open house workshops will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at Labor’s Idaho Falls office on Feb. 26, March 5 and March 12. There will also be a workshop held at the Salmon Library on March 12.

The Idaho Falls office is located at 1515 E Lincoln Road and the Salmon Public Library is located at 300 Main St. Continue reading →

Multi-Employer job fair in Boise takes place Feb. 27

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 20, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

A job fair will be held Thursday, Feb. 27, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the State of Idaho Chinden Campus, 11351 W. Chinden Blvd. The job fair will be in the Les Bois Conference Room. This room is located between buildings 3 and 4, and is accessible through the Les Bois Café.

Employers planning to attend include Idaho Bankers Association, Home Instead, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Veterans Services, YMCA, City of Boise, Equus Workforce Solutions, Bogus Basin, Idaho Division of Occupational Licenses, Idaho Transportation Department, Dabella, Personnel Plus, CP Audio and more.

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