Winter doesn’t seem to be ending soon as snowy conditions persist. This stubborn weather is met by those working as highway maintenance workers (Standard Occupational Classification of 47-4051). While snow removal is just part of their overall job description, it is certainly one that helps this career prosper in Idaho.
Modern in-state approaches for skills training, financial resources, and mental health stability of Idaho’s current and future workforce
High levels of net in-migration over the last few years puts Idaho in an enviable position. Nearly every industry is expected to experience job growth over the next 5-10 years. However, the state’s tight labor market and low unemployment rates are causing an imbalance between high employer demand for qualified labor and the lower, constrained supply of worker skill and availability.
Karen Swenson dedicated 30 years of her life to education.
When she retired and moved back to Idaho to help care for her parents, she knew there was something else she wanted to do, she just wasn’t sure what.
She was supporting her family and playing grandma. Then, she saw an advertisement to become an AmeriCorps member.
“I applied and here I am,” Swenson said, with a smile.
Idaho’s economy and labor market have undergone significant changes in the last 10 years. The state has experienced a population boom after its recovery from the Great Recession, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Population growth and the labor market
One of the most striking features of Idaho’s economy in the last decade is the surge in its population. According to the Census Bureau, from 2012 to 2022, Idaho witnessed an increase of 343,000 residents inside its borders raising its total population to 1.939 million. If all of the additional residents collected themselves to start a new city in Idaho, it would be 45% larger than Boise, the state’s largest city with a population in 2022 of 236,632. This thought experiment demonstrates not only the magnitude of the population increase but the incredible economic change it drove.
As the holidays are upon us, many look forward to traveling and recreational activities as they spend time with friends and family. Idahoans and others from across the country come to see the state’s natural beauty and famous winter sports during the holiday season. The tourism industry is crucial to Idaho’s economy, being Idaho’s third largest industry (behind agriculture and technology) as of 2021¹. Tourism is also a rapidly growing industry. In 2021, $4.8 billion dollars were spent by visitors on direct travel spending (up 12.2% from 2019) with 84% of tourism spending generated by out-of-state visitors (up 8% from 2019)¹. However, with increasing costs of transportation and other economic headwinds, travel and tourism may see some challenges this holiday season.
Gov. Brad Little has proclaimed the entire month of November as Idaho Apprenticeship Month.
Registered Apprenticeships are a proven pathway for job seekers to join the workforce and receive paid, on-the-job training leading to a recognized certification or credential in a working industry of their interest.
Apprenticeships have a 90% success rate of apprentices remaining as an employee in an industry after completing their program.
“There are multiple pathways to success,” Little said. “We need more young Idahoans to go on to postsecondary education, and we’ve been very intentional about expanding ‘go-on’ to include opportunities outside of the traditional four-year college degree – including apprenticeships.”
The following frequently asked questions explain the importance of responding to the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Report and why your business should participate.
Where does the water from our faucet go? Or maybe the water from the toilet?
Wastewater travels down our pipes to individual water districts across Idaho, where it is treated by Idaho Rural Water Association workers.
As a leader of dedicated employees in wastewater treatment, the organization trains and creates specialists who play a critical role in providing healthy water for our communities.
Job vacancies in the wastewater treatment industry are tough to fill. Idaho’s retirement rate in this industry is slightly above average compared to the United States, according to Idaho Department of Labor economist Jan Roeser.
In total – 40% over the national average.
But on the other end of the spectrum, there are many people employed as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Idaho — 1,410 to be exact. Breaking that up geographically, there are about 500 employed operators in rural Idaho.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Sept. 29, 2023
Media Contact: Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov
Gov. Brad Little presented Eileen Twombly with a Governor’s Brightest Star Award for her volunteer service to Custer and Lemhi counties during a special Idaho Capital for a Day ceremony on Sept. 28.
“Idaho’s rural communities rely on volunteerism, and Twombly is an amazing example of the important role volunteers play in Idaho,” Gov. Little said.
U.S. military veterans play an important role in the Idaho workforce and in their local communities. Sometimes veterans tend to be older than their nonveteran counterparts and face a unique set of challenges. Their armed services training often gives veterans specialized and transferrable skills that are marketable in the civilian economy. The employment services offered by the Idaho Department of Labor and its partner agencies also help our veteran population manage some of the challenges they face in the workforce.
Veteran demographics by the numbers
The percentage of Idahoans aged 18 and over claiming veteran status is 8.6%, about 1.3 times the national average [1]. Wartime-era veterans are represented in Figure 1. From a total of 122,000 veterans, this leaves a balance of 16,838 veterans living in Idaho who fall under the “other wartime service” category, including service in Afghanistan, the War on Terror and later conflicts.