ICONIC program hosts Contractor Day in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 9, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Construction contractors are invited to meet prospective heavy equipment operators this spring in three Idaho communities as part of the ICONIC program.

When participants are close to obtaining their certification in heavy equipment operation from the Idaho Career Opportunities – Next in Construction (ICONIC) program, local businesses are invited to meet participants and see their ability to use heavy machinery.

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Businesses are encouraged to apply for skills training funds

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor has been awarded an $8 million Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to support training in advanced manufacturing, domestic mineral production and nuclear energy industries.

“Idaho’s continued economic growth depends on making sure our workforce has the skills employers need to succeed,” Governor Brad Little said. “This investment helps strengthen our partnerships with industry while creating more opportunities for Idahoans to train for good-paying, in-demand jobs that support our communities and our economy.”

Labor staff are accepting funding applications from employers in advanced manufacturing technologies across a variety of innovation-driven industries. Employers can get up to 80% reimbursement for approved training costs (up to $25,000 per employee) to expand their workforce or upskill current employees. Continue reading →

Learn how Idaho women excel in workforce pathways in an upcoming webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2026
Media Contact: Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho women represented a higher share of certificate degree completions in 2023-2024, compared with the national average, according to The National Center for Economic Statistics.

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Lisa Grigg will explore the high rates of postsecondary education achieved by Idaho’s women along with looking at industries where women represent the majority of the workforce at a webinar, Tuesday, March 10.

“As program opportunities have expanded statewide, women’s postsecondary enrollments have diversified but continue to remain rooted within the focus areas of health care, education, family and consumer sciences and culinary, entertainment and personal services,” Grigg said.

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Find a new career at Coeur d’Alene hiring event, March 11

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 4, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, March 11, from noon to 3 p.m. in Coeur d’Alene.

The event takes place at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave.

Employers attending include All Ways Caring HomeCare, Badger Building Center, Dynamic Recruiting, Equus Workforce Solutions, Gozzer Ranch, Hilton Grand Vacations, Idaho State Veterans Home, Orgill, White Diamond Concrete and more.

Positions available include caregivers, yard operators, food and beverage servers, quality inspectors, certified nursing assistants, concrete workers and others.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, February 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of February and includes professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South central Idaho
Southeastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO

Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties

Regional news

  • Axis Spine Center opened a new facility within the Northwest Specialty Hospital Network in Post Falls. The new facility provides a wide range of spine and pain management services, including diagnostics, rehabilitation services and surgical interventions. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A joint venture between Americas Gold and Silver and United States Antimony will build and operate a new antimony processing plant at the Galena Mine near Wallace. The partnership will create a fully domestic and complete supply chain for antimony, which is a critical mineral used in special alloys, semiconductors, batteries and other products. Construction will be completed within 18 months of budget approval. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Idaho Department of Labor hosts open house to celebrate new building in Twin Falls

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 18, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting an open house in Twin Falls to celebrate the recently built office building, Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The public is invited to attend and accompany staff around the new building at 458 Parkview Loop.

Attendees will meet the new local office manager, and have an opportunity to say goodbye to previous manager, Megan Beyer.

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Job seekers will meet around 45 employers at hiring event in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 18, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the State of Idaho Chinden Campus in Boise. The address is 11351 W. Chinden Blvd.

The event begins at 2 p.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. in the conference room of Building 6.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including City of Boise, St. Lukes Boise Medical Center, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Idaho Central Credit Union, Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Norco Inc., Guerdon, Boise School District, Piedmont Airlines and others.

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AmeriCorps deploys team to Idaho Panhandle National Forests

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 17, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Serve Idaho — the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism — has announced the deployment of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Phoenix 1 team to complete reforestation work in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests from Feb. 15 to April 1.

“AmeriCorps NCCC has enjoyed a long and productive history of partnering with Serve Idaho and communities across the Gem State. With the recent addition of the Forest Corps program to our portfolio, we’re thrilled that our collaboration has now extended to serving and supporting national forests across Idaho,” said NCCC Director Ken Goodson. Continue reading →

Economic snapshot: A look at Idaho’s full-service restaurant industry

Full-Service Restaurants have a significant impact on Idaho’s economy. In 2025, the National Restaurant Association estimated that Idaho’s Full-Service Restaurants provided $2.76 billion in direct economic output and employs more than 28,500 people. This is 3% of Idaho’s overall employment.1

Full-Service Restaurants are restaurants with a waitstaff and offer a dining experience with table service, compared with Limited-Service Restaurants which customers generally take the food to go and there is no table service, such as a fast-food restaurant.

Full-Service Restaurant in Idaho experienced disproportionate employment drops during the pandemic compared with total employment. This was due to people not going out as much to eat. While the state’s overall total employment declined 10.2% from 2019 to 2020 due to the pandemic, Full-Service Restaurant employment declined by a larger 14.3%. Since then, the industry in Idaho stagnated from 2023-2024 (shown in Figure 1) and has not returned to the level it was before the pandemic.

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State requests public comments for modification of 2024-2027 state workforce plan

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 10, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor and the Workforce Development Council are requesting public comment on the proposed modification of Idaho’s 2024-2027 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Combined State Plan.

Idaho’s workforce development system is comprised of a network of state, regional, local agencies and organizations that provide a range of services. This includes employment, education, training and overall support to help all job-seekers secure good jobs while providing businesses with the skilled workers they need to compete in a global economy. Continue reading →