Idaho’s April Unemployment Rate Down Slightly to 2.8 Percent

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 17, 2019
Information Contact: Craig Shaul (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201 or Karen Jarboe Singletary (208) 332-3570 ext. 3215

Steady Nonfarm Job Growth Continues

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped slightly to 2.8 percent in April, the 17th consecutive month at or below 3 percent.

An additional 1,768 people made themselves available for work between March and April, pushing Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force up to 869,968. The number of unemployed decreased by 234 – down nearly one percent to 24,683. Total employment grew by 2,002 to 845,285.

Idaho’s labor force participation rate – the percentage of people age 16 years or older working or looking for work – increased to 63.9 percent.

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JobScape Connects Veterans with Civilian Job Openings

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 16, 2019
Information Contact: Jessica Beaver-Nelson, (208) 332-3570
ext. 4415

Veterans can now find Idaho jobs and training opportunities directly related to their military skills and service at labor.idaho.gov/jobscape.

JobScape allows job seekers and others to learn more about an occupation’s hourly and annual wages, worker demand, current employment numbers, annual job openings, and it provides a direct link to current, relevant job listings. Searches can be made statewide or by region.

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Idaho Population Shift from Rural to Urban Counties Continued in 2018

In-Migration Accounted for 73 Percent of Idaho’s Population Increase

Idaho’s population continued to become more urbanized from mid-2017 to mid-2018, with nearly 73 percent of the growth coming from outside the state, newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows. The data provides additional detail at the county level to the January release that showed Idaho’s 2.1 percent population increase tied with Nevada as the fastest-growing state in the nation.

The Boise Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population grew by 2.9 percent – the eighth fastest among the nation’s 383 other MSAs. The five counties that comprise the Boise MSA – Ada, Boise, Canyon, Gem and Owyhee counties – increased by 20,346 people accounting for 58 percent of the state’s total increase of 35,304. The concentration of more than half of Idaho’s growth in the Boise MSA typifies the continued steady shift toward urbanization of the state’s population from rural to urban counties.

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Job Seekers Invited to Employment and Apprenticeship Fair in McCall

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 6, 2019
Information Contact: Julie Heidemann (208) 634-7102, ext. 3090

The Idaho Department of Labor’s McCall local office is holding a Spring Employment and Apprenticeship Fair from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, in the Idaho First Bank Community Room, 475 Deinhard Lane.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in April 2019

Information provided in this article 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

Kootenai County

  • Post Falls based manufacturer Quest Integration Inc. leased a new facility in the Tedder Office Park and plans to expand its 3D printing operations with the new space. Source: Spokane-Kootenai Journal of Business
  • Washington-based Crawl Space Cleaning Pros has leased warehousing space in Post Falls and is in the process of opening its first Idaho location. The company specializes in environmentally friendly cleanup and insulation of crawl spaces. Source: Spokane-Kootenai Journal of Business
  • After a series of public hearings, the Coeur d’Alene Panning Commission approved plans for a new apartment complex in the city’s Riverstone development. The new complex will feature five-story apartment blocks as part of the city’s recent move toward higher-density construction. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Kootenai County released a proposed update of its comprehensive plan, titled Keeping Kootenai, for community input. In 2010, the county released a strategic plan which consisted of 347 different goals and policy statements, which county officials said were difficult to interpret and implement. The new strategic plan is designed to be simplified and streamlined for ease of implementation. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 457-8789 ext. 4451

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Idaho Construction Employment Building Back to Pre-Recession Level

The level of construction activity is one of many indicators that signal the health of an economy. Currently, Idaho’s scenery is dotted with construction projects ranging from heavy construction infrastructure ventures to commercial buildings to single- and multi-family homes and residential housing projects.

This was not the case after the Great Recession (December 2007 to June 2009) squelched Idaho’s strong housing industry, resulting in a loss of almost 23,000 jobs based on quarterly employer reports to the Idaho Department of Labor. Construction was one of the hardest hit industries during that time and continues to rebuild in all six Idaho regions.

Idaho’s construction industry has grown by 127 percent from 1991-2018. It has experienced more periods of growth than downturns in jobs since 1991, as shown in Chart 1.

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Job Fair Focuses on Job Seekers with Disabilities

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2019
Information Contact: Stacey Hanlon (208) 457-8789 ext. 3947

The Idaho Department of Labor Discovery Job Fair will be held May 1, 2019, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Kootenai County Department of Labor local office, 600 N. Thornton St. in Post Falls. The event is tailored specifically for job seekers with disabilities.

Employers recruiting at the Discovery Job Fair currently employ people with disabilities or are open to hiring from this pool of job seekers.

Job applicants are encouraged to bring a resume, dress to meet potential employers and be prepared to speak directly with company recruiters and HR personnel. The event is free to attend.

Businesses interested in recruiting at this event and customers with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation to participate can contact Stacey Hanlon at (208) 457-8789 ext. 3947. To access the Idaho Relay Service for the deaf and hard of hearing, dial 711.

Interviewing tips from the Department of Labor are online at labor.idaho.gov.

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Idaho’s March Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 2.9 Percent

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 19, 2019
Information Contact: Craig Shaul (208) 332-3570 ext. 3201 or Karen Jarboe Singletary (208) 332-3570 ext. 3215

Third Fastest Rate in the Nation for Over-the-Year Job Growth

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March remained steady at 2.9 percent, the 16th consecutive month at or below 3 percent.

An additional 1,737 people entered the labor force from February to March, a slight 0.2 percent increase that pushed Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force number up to 868,263. The number of unemployed increased by 141, or 0.6 percent, to 24,918. Total employment increased by 1,596, up 0.2 percent to 843,345.

Idaho’s labor force participation rate – the percentage of people age 16 years or older working or looking for work – increased one tenth of a percent to 63.9 percent.

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Explore Career Opportunities in Variety of Industries at April 30 Expo

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2019
Information Contact: Vicki Raass, (208) 364-7781 ext 3876

Representatives from several industries will be on hand at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa on April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to give young people and other job seekers information about different careers available in the area.

Explore Your Future career expo provides a behind-the-scenes look at local businesses and highlights careers in health care, public safety, IT, aerospace, transportation, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, military, energy and many more.

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Hiring Workers with Disabilities Topic of Luncheon Meeting April 18

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 11, 2019
Information Contact: Amy Reynolds, (208) 415-5406

Presentation Prepares Businesses for May 1 Job Fair

The Human Resource Network of North Idaho is hosting an April 18 employer luncheon to address hiring people with disabilities. Discussion will focus on labor laws and how they apply to hiring and accommodating workers with disabilities.

Hiring Employees with Disabilities luncheon meeting will be held April 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn at 506 W. Appleway Ave.

The goal of this presentation is to review compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and to encourage and prepare businesses to participate in the Discovery Job Fair May 1 at the Idaho Department of Labor Kootenai County local office.

Luncheon speakers will include Benjamin Earwicker, Ph.D., administrator, Idaho Human Rights Commission; Kara Heikkila, employment attorney with Witherspoon Kelley; Cameron Cushing, vocational rehabilitation specialist, Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Terri Johnson , vice president, Tesh; and Theresa Moran, special education instructor, Project SEARCH.

For more information and to register for the luncheon, visit www.hrnni.org.

Businesses interested in recruiting at the May 1 Discovery Job Fair can contact Stacey Hanlon at the Idaho Department of Labor, (208) 457-8789, ext. 3947 or stacey.hanlon@labor.idaho.gov.

For more information about the job fair, see the Idaho Department of Labor online calendar.

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