Tag Archives: Youth

Idaho’s share of youth wanes despite overall population growth

Idaho’s youth population — those 19 years and younger — grew by 2.7% between 2020-2024, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This was relatively low compared with the 65 and older category growing by 17.4% and the state’s total population growing by 8.2% or 152,204 people.

Of the total population growth seen between 2020-2024, Idaho’s youth contributed the smallest share among all census age categories at 9.3%. However, what is typically considered as “working age” — a combination of two census age categories covering those 20-64 years of age — contributed 56.3%, helping backfill retirements and exits to other occupations or industries (Figure 1). Continue reading →

From cashier to medical biller, the Idaho Department of Labor helped youth participant achieve career goals

Twenty-five-year-old Lewiston resident Madison Elzea was a cashier and registrar, until she got diagnosed with a chronic pain condition. This diagnosis had Elzea adjust and make some career changes to fit her new lifestyle.

In order to make those changes a reality, Elzea approached the Idaho Department of Labor in Lewiston for extra support. The department was recommended from a friend that had a positive experience in the jumpstart program for workforce training. The youth program offers education, training and employment opportunities to out-of-school youth ages 16 to 24.

Madison Elzea in her graduate attire

Graduate from Lewis Clark State College, Madison Elzea, stands proudly from her accomplishment.

“I pursued the youth program to go back to school, so I could be eligible for more specialized positions rather than customer service,” Elzea said.

Elzea wanted to transition into the medical field and work in an office environment rather than customer service and wasn’t sure where to start. She expressed that people who are interested in going into this field, preferably need an education.

To make that dream a reality, the department connected her to attend Lewis Clark State College to obtain her certificate in medical billing.

Continue reading →

LAUNCH workshop is available for graduating seniors, online, March 20

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is offering an online workshop, Thursday, March 20, to graduating high school senior students interested in applying to the LAUNCH career education grant program.

The workshop is from 5 to 7 p.m. MT and takes place via Microsoft Teams. Register at the department’s Eventbrite event page.

All students graduating in 2025 under the age of 21, including public, private, charter, homeschool and English as a second language students are welcome to attend.

Continue reading →

LAUNCH workshops are available for graduating students, Feb. 26, March 5 and 12 in eastern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 24, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is offering workshops in eastern Idaho to graduating students interested in applying to the LAUNCH career education grant program.

The open house workshops will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at Labor’s Idaho Falls office on Feb. 26, March 5 and March 12. There will also be a workshop held at the Salmon Library on March 12.

The Idaho Falls office is located at 1515 E Lincoln Road and the Salmon Public Library is located at 300 Main St. Continue reading →

Apprenticeship Idaho distributes over 3,000 books to schools across the state

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 18, 2024
Media Contact: Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov

Author Elaine Zabriskie with her dog and star of the book, Booper.

Over 3,000 free children’s books about the value of apprenticeships were distributed by the Idaho Department of Labor and Apprenticeship Idaho to elementary school classrooms across the state in September.

Designed for K-5 students, “Booper Dreams Big: An Almost True Story of Apprenticeship” follows the journey of Booper the dog and his apprenticeship as a satellite technician.

Apprenticeship Idaho originally published the book in 2022, becoming one of the first U.S. government agencies to produce a children’s book about apprenticeship. Continue reading →

Empowering youth: Career exploration and hiring event set for Saturday, March 2

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 26, 2024
Media Contact: Janalee.Henderson@labor.idaho.gov

Treasure Valley residents between the ages of 14 to 24 are invited to attend a career exploration and hiring event in Meridian, Saturday, March 2.

The event will be held at the Galaxy Event Center at Wahooz, 1385 S. Blue Marlin Lane, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Continue reading →

Interviewing workshop available for teens at Meridian Library

Summer months are the peak of youth employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last July, the bureau reported 55.3% of youth ages 16 to 24 were employed in the U.S., slightly more than in 2021.photo: Girl working in warehouse

To get that summer job, however, requires some prep work, such as learning valuable skills. Sometimes young people need a leg-up and a little extra help to succeed in a career they love.

In southwestern Idaho, teens have the opportunity to learn some of those skills and gain a head-start in their career by attending a free workshop, Feb. 22. The event takes place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Meridian Library.

Continue reading →

Idaho youth continue growing through Idaho Job Corps

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2022
Media Contact: Tina Polishchuk, Ed.D, tina.polishchuk@labor.idaho.gov

When Idaho Job Corps welcomed its first group of students in October 2019 at its first location in Nampa, it was a three-year national demonstration project, piloting a new approach to serving youth. Idaho Job Corps is now readily accessible to Idaho’s youth in four locations across the state.

The overall goal? Eventually Serve 750 income-eligible students, ages 16-24, by training them for the workforce.

photo: girl sitting at computerToday, the program is thriving. Idaho Job Corps and the Idaho Department of Labor partner with the College of Western Idaho, College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College to deliver education, training and a whole host of wrap-around services to low-income students with barriers to employment.

To date, some 145 students have already moved through the program, and Idaho Job Corps is serving 195 students throughout the system – 43 of those enrolled just this year. Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

Labor Seeks Out-of-School Youth for Employment, Training Programs

Idahoans who are out of school and between ages 16 and 24 can learn new skills, discover more job opportunities and earn better pay through two federal programs managed by the Idaho Department of Labor.

Each program has unique characteristics, qualifications and offers on-the-job and vocational training, apprenticeships and advanced education to low-income youth.

Workforce consultants meet with the job seekers to identify interests, goals and develop an individual career plan. Sometimes the plan involves finishing high school or earning a GED. Other times it means skills testing, advanced training and education and paid work experience. Continue reading →