Tag Archives: Ryan Whitesides

Around Idaho: Economic Activity, July 2023

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

Region

  • Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. All told, there were 2,262 job postings in northern Idaho in July 2023, according to data from the Conference Board, of which 1,907 were posted in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupation was registered nurses, followed by freight and stock laborers.

Table: Toop 10 occuptions by job postings in northern Idaho July 2023

Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic Activity, June 2023

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

Region

  • Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. All told, there were 2,292 job postings in northern Idaho in June 2023 – according to data from the Conference Board – of which 1,869 were posted in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupations were laborers, freight, stock and material movers. These were followed by registered nurses and a variety of high-turnover and common service sector positions.Table - top 10 occupations by job postings in norhtern Idaho, June 2023

Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic Activity, May 2023

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

Region

  • Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. There were 1,937 job postings in northern Idaho in May 2023 – 1,545 in Kootenai County– according to data from the Conference Board. The most in-demand occupation by far was freight, stock, and material workers, followed by registered nurses and a variety of high-turnover and common service sector positions.
    Top 10 occupations by job posting in northern Idaho

Continue reading →

Small state plays significant role in mineral mining: The geo-economic impact of Idaho’s critical metals and rare earths mining

The mining of rare earth and critical mineral deposits within the state’s economy is part of an ongoing research series by the Idaho Department of Labor on how Idaho is affected by the geo-economic and geo-political interrelationships. The Idaho Geological Survey, labor market analysis, as well as environmental and economic impact scenarios of the state’s mining sector will also be examined.

Part 1

High atop Idaho’s picturesque Salmon-Challis national forest sits the Cobalt Belt of Idaho, an important mining district for some of the world’s critical minerals and rare earth elements. This special grouping of locally mined esoteric minerals has noteworthy economic, geologic, political, technical and environmental dimensions of availability [1].

View the author’s webinar presentation about the importance of rare earth elements on Idaho’s labor market on Idaho Labor’s YouTube page.

“Critical minerals” is an early 20th-century military-industrial term still in use and revamped for the 21st-century green economy [2]. Critical minerals mining in Idaho’s Cobalt Belt and other parts of the state is seeing a resurgence as the nation moves toward energy self-sufficiency with select natural resources. Some of the raw materials like cobalt and antimony are needed to store energy in electric vehicle batteries, among many other technological applications, and they are found exclusively in Idaho mines and nowhere else in the United States. Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic Activity, April 2023

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

Region

  • Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. There were 2,674 job postings in northern Idaho in April 2023, according to data from the Conference Board — 2,342 in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupation was registered nurses, followed by a variety of high-turnover and common service sector positions.

Table: North Idaho top 10 job postings, April 2023

Kootenai County

  • Post Falls-based Prairie Falls Golf Club began construction on a new 43,000-square-foot facility that will be the new home of the club’s pro shop, a hotel, event center, retail and restaurant facilities. The new facility is scheduled to open in July, and the golf club will be hiring 40 additional employees. Source: Journal of Business
  • Beacon Cancer Care is expanding its services with the addition of a new rheumatology practice in its Coeur d’Alene Chinook Medical Campus. Source: Journal of Business
  • A new urban development is being built in Post Falls. The 32-acre Millworx development will feature 685 residential units in addition to over 100,000 square feet of commercial space. The project has expanded significantly after it was originally envisioned as a 120-unit development in 2022. The development will also include a Hyatt Place Hotel and a variety of retail and restaurant establishments. Source: Journal of Business

Construction of a new 18-story high rise condominium in downtown Coeur d’Alene is underway. Named the Thomas George Building, the building will be home to 60 luxury condominiums and offer views of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Source: Journal of Business

  • The Idaho Transportation Department has begun its first full season of construction on the planned four-year revision of the critical interchange between Interstate 90 and State Route 41. After preparatory work began in August of last year, the crews in the 2023 season will focus on building three new bridges for westbound I-90. The project is scheduled to be completed by summer Source: Journal of Business

Openings:

  • Beau Monde Luxe, Hayden
  • Fire Artisan Pizza, Coeur d’Alene
  • Konala Hawaiian Restaurant, Post Falls
  • North Idaho Medical Massage, Coeur d’Alene
  • Parallel 47 Restaurant, Coeur d’Alene
  • Pinnacle Estate Planning, Coeur d’Alene
  • Post Falls Pavilion Food Trucks, Post Falls
  • Quality Stoves and Spa, Post Falls
  • ReMAX Realty, Coeur d’Alene
  • Rude Law, Coeur d’Alene

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

Continue reading →

April 11 webinar: Importance of rare-earth elements on Idaho’s labor market

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2023
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

Rare-earth elements, including the types, uses and labor market impact will be discussed during a free webinar, April 11, 11 a.m. to noon (MDT) via Zoom.

These elements consist of 17 metals used in electrical components, engines and more.

Idaho Department of Labor economist Ryan Whitesides said there are employment shifts within the rare-earth and critical mining industry, mostly in eastern Idaho, Lemhi and surrounding counties, from where their workers may commute.  Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic Activity, March 2023

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

Region

  • Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. All told, there were 1,843 unique job postings in northern Idaho in February 2023, according to data from The Conference Board, with 1,547 posted in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupation by far was registered nurses, followed by a variety of high-turnover and common service sector positions.

Top 10 occupations by job postings in northern Idaho, February 2023

Table: Top 10 occupations by job postings in northern Idaho, February 2023Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast (formerly EMSI-Burning Glass)

Bonner County

  • Bonner General Hospital will end its labor and delivery services in the coming months, citing physician turnover and staffing shortages as reason. In 2022, 265 babies were delivered at Bonner General. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Kootenai County

  • The Coeur d’Alene City Council is annexing a 440-acre parcel of county land, which will be zoned residential and commercial and developed as Coeur Terre. The development, which will be built out over multiple decades, is expected to eventually include 2,800 housing units, retail and restaurant areas, 18 acres of parks, and land for two public schools. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Several new health care facilities are under construction in Hayden. A two-story building for the future Hayden Surgery Center is now in progress, and Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine is building a new location in Hayden as well. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings

  • Medical Massage, Coeur d’Alene
  • Fit Body Boot Camp, Coeur d’Alene
  • Northwest Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine, Athol
  • Quality Stoves and Spas, Post Falls
  • Toys R Us, Coeur d’Alene

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

Continue reading →

Grant, funding initiatives can benefit Idaho citizens

Not all government grant programs are designed for businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions or local governments. Personal government grants are also available for individuals — Idaho citizens, including students, veterans, homeowners and remote workers, among others.

Personal government grants are usually based on supply of available funding and eligibility requirements. These grants are intended to provide a meaningful benefit to the local economy by creating opportunity, making housing more affordable, educating workers and raising wages.

Currently, more jobs exist than there are job seekers looking for work. Even among active job seekers, job seekers may not have the requisite skills to fill these positions. Grant program funding that supports education and training benefit both employers and job seekers.

Personal education grants

With personal education grants, people can enhance their job skills while contributing to a larger supply of candidates for Idaho’s talent pool. Idaho Launch is one such program, providing funds to promote wider accessibility to training for Idahoans — from high school graduates to mid-career workers.

Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic Activity, February 2023

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

Kootenai County

  • Kootenai Health is opening a new urgent care clinic in Coeur d’Alene in partnership with the MultiCare Health System’s Indigo Urgent Care network. In 2022, Kootenai Urgent Care had more than 55,000 visits across its three locations. The new clinic will help distribute the caseload and reduce wait times. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Hayden Canyon Charter school has completed a major expansion project which doubled the available space in the school. The charter school has seen a large increase in applications in recent years and has had student counts limited by available classrooms. The new expansion will increase the capacity by up to 100 incoming first and second grade students, bringing the school’s total capacity up to nearly 600 students. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • North Idaho College (NIC) received a downgrade in its bond ratings from Moody’s Investor Service amid ongoing questions about the college’s accreditation status and governance ambiguity. NIC’s issuer rating was downgraded from A3 to A1, and the revenue bond rating was dropped from A3 to A2. Moody’s cited “a continuing period of significant governance and management dysfunction.” Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings – Post Falls

  • North Idaho Urology
  • BoxDrop Mattress and Furniture
  • St Joseph’s Ear, Nose, Throat, and Allergy Clinic
  • Dog House Grooming
  • North Idaho Floors

Coeur d’Alene

  • Blythe Anchor
  • JIK Printshop

Hayden

    • Revival Wellness

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

Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic Activity, January 2023

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

Region

  • The Idaho Department of Lands purchased 18,050 acres of timberland spread around the five northern Idaho counties. The land, acquired for $50.4 million, will support state endowment beneficiaries, especially Idaho’s public schools, and boost long-term timber sales. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Kootenai County

  • Great Homes of Idaho is now operating in Post Falls. A builder of manufactured and modular homes, Great Homes started in Missoula and has now expanded to northern Idaho. This new supply of affordable housing is greatly desirable, with Kootenai County experiencing serious shortages of workforce housing. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Coeur d’Alene Airport is evaluating adding a commercial terminal. The current proposal would permit Avports, an airport operations management firm based in Virginia, to construct a new terminal, which would service commercial flights connecting northern Idaho to regional locations like Boise and Seattle. A measure is currently before the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners which would approve a 25-year lease for the project. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Hayden City Council denied a zoning amendment which would have allowed for a new subdivision to be built on the arterial Ramsey and Hayden intersection. Council members cited serious traffic concerns. The city’s capital improvement plan has already identified the intersection as a priority for improvement. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings

  • Bruchi’s, Post Falls
  • Club Pilates, Hayden
  • Parallel 47, Coeur d’Alene
  • Pizza Hut, Hayden
  • The Wellness Bar, Coeur d’Alene

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

Continue reading →