Idaho’s 2020 Workplace Fatality Rate Remains Unchanged from 2019

By Phoebe Guan, Research Analyst Senior

In 2020, the overall workplace fatal injury rate in Idaho was 4.1% – a representation of the number of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. This rate remains unchanged from 2019.

In 2020, there were 32 work-related fatalities recorded across Idaho, four fatalities less than a year ago and the lowest since 2017. Among all injuries, 23 were employees who worked for wage and salary, while fatalities for self-employed increased from 8 to 9 from 2019.

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Idaho’s November Unemployment Rate Drops to 2.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec. 17, 2021
Media Contact: Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov
or Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

November Unemployment Rate – 2021

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.6% in November, down 0.2 percentage points from October. 

The state’s labor force grew by 1,017 people (0.1%) to 908,676 – marking four consecutive months with over-the-month labor force increases exceeding 1,000. 

Labor force participation decreased slightly from 62.4% to 62.3% in November – a new historic low. Idaho’s peak participation rate reached 71.4% in September 1998. 

Total employment grew by 2,309 to 884,865, up 0.3%, while total unemployment dropped 1,292 (5.1%) to 23,811.

Idaho’s nonfarm payroll jobs exceeded seasonal expectations at 787,900 in November, up 0.1% (800 jobs) from October. Industries showing growth included arts, entertainment and recreation (6.3%); private educational services (1.5%); transportation, warehousing and utilities (1.4%); wholesale trade (1.2%); retail trade (0.3%) and health care and social services (0.2%).

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Idaho’s Economic Recovery Exceeds Expectations in 2020

Idaho continued to experience rapid population growth, relatively low unemployment and a significant increase in business growth in 2020, even as the coronavirus pandemic caused major interruptions to the national and state economies.

Comparing Idaho’s 2020 economy with neighboring states gives economists a clearer perspective of the state’s economy and creates a roadmap of expectations for a full economic picture in 2021.

Idaho’s 2.1% population growth from 2019 to 2020 was the highest among the states for the fourth consecutive year. The U.S. Census Bureau will release state population estimates for 2021 on Dec. 21, 2021, and will reveal if Idaho’s population growth will continue to lead the nation. Figure f-1: Population growth by state, 2019 to 2020, ranked

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Idaho’s Private Sector Showed Net Job Gains in First Quarter 2021

Idaho private sector job gains exceeded job losses, yielding a net employment gain of 16,217 jobs during the first quarter of 2021.

From December 2020 to March 2021, gross job gains in Idaho totaled 53,979 while gross job losses totaled 37,762.

Figure 1

Graphic of job gains and losses in Idaho 2011-2021 by number

According to the U.S. Business Employment Dynamic (BED) report, both gross job gains and gross job losses declined in Idaho from fourth quarter 2020 (Figure 1).

The BED report, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, covers job gains and losses at private sector firms and identifies whether the change is due to businesses opening or closing, or increases and decreases in employment at existing firms.

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Governor Little Appoints Commissioners to Serve Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec. 8, 2021
Media Contact: Renee Bade, renee.bade@labor.idaho.gov

Gov. Brad Little appointed four new commissioners to Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. The new commissioners include Kevin Bailey and Amy Little, both of Boise, Alina Rahim of Pocatello and Jordan Woods of Meridian.

The four join 14 governor-appointed commissioners whose mission is “To inspire and recognize volunteers and empower communities through service and AmeriCorps to solve Idaho’s unmet needs.”

“Our commissioners bring a wealth of knowledge and energy to the commission as well as first-hand knowledge of the benefits and rewards of service in our communities,” said Renee Bade, program manager for Serve Idaho.

Photo: Kevin Bailey

Kevin Bailey

Bailey was appointed as an ex-officio commissioner and is the President and CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center where he has overseen the organization since July 2021. He previously served as the CEO of the United Way of southeastern Idaho and has more than 10 years of nonprofit experience, including working in international development, higher education and community-based nonprofit work. Prior to moving to Idaho, Bailey served as the director of Federal Upward Bound projects for Nebraska Methodist College, the family strengthening coordinator for Catholic Charities of Omaha and worked as a teacher in both Virginia and Chile.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in October 2021

Information provided in these news updates is from professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

 

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Shoshone County

  • The state of Idaho has taken ownership of the Central Treatment Plant in Kellogg under the direction of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The plant has been responsible for cleaning up mine pollution in the Coeur d’Alene Basin since it began operations 50 years ago. Under new ownership, the plant is expected to overcome the facility’s former water capacity restrictions and lower the amount of heavy metals from the nearby mine before it flows into the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Source: Shoshone News-Press

Kootenai County

  • Lanzce G. Douglass Inc. has started work on a $73.3 million housing project in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area. The River’s Edge Apartments in Coeur d’Alene will account for $45.2 million of the total project. With 12 apartment buildings and 384 residential units, River’s Edge will be one of the largest multifamily complexes in the region. The apartments will be located in the Atlas District, part of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal district along the north side of the Spokane River, in west Coeur d’Alene. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

Bonner County

  • The Priest Lake wetland is set to be subdivided for land development and housing construction. Local residents have expressed concerns about the permanent loss of several ecosystem functions and their benefits to humans such as flood control, water filtration and aquifer recharge. Source: Spokesman-Review

Business updates

  • Amazon Air has launched daily flights from a 30,750-square-foot cargo facility at the Spokane Airport. The $5.4 million facility will transport packages from the airport to the Amazon Fulfillment Center, located a few miles southwest of the new Amazon Air station at 10010 W. Geiger Blvd. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • Corwin Automotive Group purchased Gus Johnson Ford in Spokane Valley and plans to work with Mike White Ford of Coeur d’Alene to grow its presence in the area. Corwin Auto is based in North Dakota. Source: The Spokesman-Review

Rajshri Suresh@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 332-3570 ext. 3201

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Machine Operator Apprenticeship Opens Doors for Four Magic Valley Students

Program leads to full-time jobs with livable wages

Sabastian Juarez and three classmates – Tanner Pratt, Jonathon Lizardi and Andres Gutierrez  –  have taken control of their futures and are ready for full-time careers with solid livable wages.

The four high school students recently completed a multi-year registered apprenticeship for machine operators that included 150 hours of early-morning classroom work and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.

Sabastian Juarez at work at High Desert Milk in Burley. Photo courtesy High Desert Milk.

Juarez is now 21 years old with a full-time job at High Desert Milk in Burley, making $25 an hour as an assistant shift supervisor.

“Sabastian, he’s phenomenal,” said Tory Bailey, human resources manager at High Desert Milk and classroom instructor for the machine operator apprenticeship. “He can run anything in the plant. He’s very driven and a quick-learner.”

The Idaho Department of Labor spent five years building the machine operator apprenticeship  from scratch at the request of local manufacturing companies like McCain Foods, High Desert Milk and Fabri-Kal.

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Idaho Labor Seeks Youth in Need of Employment, Career, Education Support

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 22, 2021
Media Contact: Georgia Smith, georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

Out-of-school youth between ages 16 and 24 now have numerous opportunities to learn new skills and increase their earnings through apprenticeships, on-the-job and vocational training and much more thanks to a federal program managed by the Idaho Department of Labor.

“Qualified individuals have so many options with this program,” said Keith Whiting, career planner.

We can open doors to new skills, job opportunities and better pay!Hundreds of young people are already benefitting from the program, with more than 1,000 served during the past two years. The state of Idaho receives annual funding – around $2.8 million in 2021 – in Idaho Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds to offer these services.

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Idaho’s October Unemployment Rate Drops to 2.8%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 19, 2021
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen Jarboe Singletary, Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.8% in October, down 0.1 percentage points from September.

The state’s labor force grew by 1,470 (0.2%) people to 907,622 – the second largest over-the-month increase this year. The labor force participation rate remained at 62.4%.

Total employment grew by 2,270 to 882,543, up 0.3%, while total unemployment dropped 3.2% (-800) to 25,079.

Idaho’s nonfarm payroll jobs were 1,300 below seasonal expectations at 785,700 in October, down 0.2% from 787,000 in September. Industries with fewer jobs than expected included information (-3.8%); accommodation and food services (-2.5%); transportation, warehouse and utilities (-1.1%); federal government (-0.8%); professional and business services (-0.4%); retail trade (-0.2%); and financial activities (-0.2%). Continue reading →

National Apprenticeship Week Nov. 15-21, 2021 logo

Governor Little Proclaims Apprenticeship Month 2021

On Nov. 15, 2021, Idaho Gov. Brad Little held a press conference at the Boys and Girls Club of Ada County in Garden City to sign a proclamation declaring November as Idaho Apprenticeship Month, coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week, which is Nov. 15-21. Read the proclamation here.

Photo-Gov. Brad Little

Gov. Brad Little signs the proclamation designating Nov. 15-18 National Apprenticeship Week in Idaho.

Additionally, the mayors of Caldwell, Idaho Falls, Nampa, Meridian and Pocatello have proclaimed Nov. 15-21 as Apprenticeship Week in their municipalities.

The 7th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) taking place Nov. 15 – 21, 2021, is a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for re-building our economy and supporting underserved communities. NAW is an opportunity to highlight how Registered Apprenticeship, a proven and industry-driven training model, provides a critical talent pipeline that can help address some of our nation’s pressing workforce challenges such as responding to critical supply chain demands and supporting a clean energy workforce, modernizing our cybersecurity response, addressing public health issues and rebuilding our country’s infrastructure.

For more information about statewide activities, visit the Apprenticeship.gov website.

To learn more about Registered Apprenticeship in Idaho, visit apprenticeshipidaho.gov