Tag Archives: Veterans

Helping Idaho veterans meet challenges, seize opportunities

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.

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Labor’s Sept. 12 webinar will focus on Idaho’s veteran population

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 6, 2023
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

According to the U.S Census Bureau, there were 122,331 veterans living in Idaho in 2021, or 8.6% of the total adult population. Quite a few re-enter the workforce after their service.

Two Idaho Department of Labor economists, Matthew Paskash and Ryan Whitesides, will present labor market information on the state’s veteran population and desirable workforce traits of veterans at a free webinar, Tuesday Sept. 12. Continue reading →

OPINION: Registered Apprenticeships benefit Idaho’s people, economy

Thursday, November 10, 2022

By Jani Revier, director of Idaho Department of Labor

Nov. 14-20 is National Apprenticeship Week and marks the Photo of Jani Revier, Idaho Department of Labor directorcelebration of a proven and time-honored career pathway. Right now, 236 Idaho businesses sponsor apprenticeships, with more than 1,800 participating Idahoans getting paid on the job.

Like many Americans, Idahoans have seen sharp increases in housing costs while the consumer price index has risen 8.2% in just one year. Facing these circumstances, Idaho’s workforce needs competitive job opportunities now more than ever, and the state’s employers need the labor. Continue reading →

Idaho Labor offices throughout the state help veterans gain their postsecondary education

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 2, 2022
Media Contact: Georgia.Smith@labor.idaho.gov

Steve, a retired veteran from the Idaho National Guard, didn’t think attending a job fair would change his life.

But it did. In an amazing way.

To get there, Steve reached out to Kenneth Scott, an Idaho Department of Labor veterans’ representative in Post Falls who provided him with the tools he needed to reach his career goals.

Nowadays, Steve is seen regularly at recruiting events representing Heritage Health in an HR role. He recruits veterans, just like him, for jobs with his employer. He says Idaho Labor’s support made a huge difference in his life.

And he’s not the only veteran, or spouse of a veteran, who may be eligible to receive this kind of support with finding a job.

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

With 116,000 veterans scattered around Idaho, they reside in various counties. According to the 2020 five-year American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, the top 10 counties with the largest share of the population include Elmore (22.1%), Adams (16.6%), Clearwater (14.7%), Lemhi (14.3%), Boise (13.6%), Benewah (13.0%), Gem (12.5%), Bonner (11.9%), Idaho (11.7%) and Lewis (11.7%).

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Idaho Veteran Census Data Important for Providing Services

Idaho is home to an estimated 116,157 veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey1. That translates to a 9.1% share of the state’s overall population of individuals 18 years and older compared with the nation’s 18,230,322 veterans at a share of 7.3% of total population 18 years and older.

Data on where veterans and other characteristics are gathered for myriad reasons:

  • State and federal officials determine how and where to provide government services to assist veterans in all aspects of returning to civilian life. Some veterans find their specific jobs in the military do not transition to the civilian workforce, such as personnel who load armaments or who are involved in large-scale field logistics. At the county and state government levels, staff are assigned to help veterans find jobs, provide college and career counseling and making sure they understand their military benefits. Some federal jobs provide preference to veteran hiring by giving additional points to a job application. It is helpful to have someone who knows how to help newly-separated military veterans navigate these benefits.
  • It helps to know where veterans are living, so when Veteran Administration officials decide where to locate clinics, hospitals and long-term care facilities, they are placed in a centralized spot for access.
  • Many private employers prefer to hire veterans based on the levels of discipline and training that translates to resilience and solid work ethic.

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Serve Idaho Celebrates Impact of National Service

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 6 2021
Media Contacts: Renee Bade, renee.bade@labor.idaho.gov or Micaela de Loyola-Carkin, Micaela.deloyola-carkin@labor.idaho.gov

Serve Idaho joins leaders across the country in the ninth annual National Service Recognition Day, a nationwide bipartisan initiative to highlight the impact of national service in tackling local problems. The event was established to recognize the positive impact of national service, to thank those who serve and to encourage more citizens to give back to their communities.

This year’s event is especially meaningful as tens of thousands of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors members have supported communities in response to the pandemic and other challenges during the past year. National service members and volunteers across the nation continue to help distribute vaccines, work at food banks, support tutoring initiatives, safely get students back in the classroom and support isolated seniors.

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U.S. Department of Labor Recognizes Three Idaho Businesses for Supporting Veterans

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 7, 2021
Media Contacts: Darlene Carnopis, darlene.carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

National Native American Construction Inc. of Coeur d’ Alene, Independence Indoor Shooting of Meridian and Treasure Valley Advanced Concepts LLC of Nampa each received a 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Award. This U.S. Department of Labor program recognizes U.S. employers for recruiting, hiring and retaining America’s veterans.

The awards were presented in November at a virtual ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia at the Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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Labor Program Offers Support to Recently Released Incarcerated Vets

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 28, 2020
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, (208) 332-3570 ext. 2102

More than 70 previously incarcerated veterans in Idaho have benefited from a variety of services provided through the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program since its start in July 2018, and officials hope to help an additional 75 veterans over the next year and a half.

The federally funded program, managed by the Idaho Department of Labor, can provide services such as classroom training, on-the-job-training, occupational skills training, and apprenticeship training and retraining. Additional support may include funding for work tools and clothing, rental assistance, car repairs, transportation and child care.

The program is intended to ease the transition from incarceration – whether city, county, state or federal facility – to employment with the right support structure in place.

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U.S. Department of Labor Recognizes Three Idaho Businesses for Supporting Veterans

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 8, 2019
Information Contact: Georgia Smith, (208) 332-3570 ext. 2102

LA Aluminum Casting Company of Hayden, Sunterra Supports Services LLC of Idaho Falls and Intermountain Polygraph Services of Twin Falls each received a 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award. The U.S. Department of Labor program recognizes job creators for their leadership in recruiting, employing and retaining America’s veterans.

The awards were presented Nov. 6 at a ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia at the Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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Labor Program Offers Support to Recently Released Incarcerated Vets

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 13, 2019
Information Contact: Robert Feliciano (208) 364-7785, ext. 3624

Veterans who have been incarcerated – whether city, county, state or federal facility – and have been released within the last 12 months, may be eligible for services under the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP).

The program, managed by the Idaho Department of Labor, can provide services such as classroom training, on-the-job-training, occupational skills training, apprenticeship training and retraining. Additional support may include funding for work clothing and boots, transportation, childcare, vehicle repairs and rent.

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