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First class of high school Career Technical Education diploma program graduates
In 2021, the state Legislature created a new diploma program called the Career Technical Education (CTE) diploma, of which the pioneering 2022 class recently graduated from this May, and some will graduate in June, depending on their school district. Offered through the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education, this diploma is available to junior and senior high school students who wish to sel[...]
Analysis: This negotiating season, will teacher pay raises meet expectations?
Some teachers already know what kind of raises they can expect this year. In Nampa, administrators and union negotiators are just starting to talk about dollars. Idaho school districts and charters have a windfall for teacher salaries: in Nampa, the new money comes to slightly more than $4 million. At Gov. Brad Little’s urging, the 2022 Legislature put an additional 10% into teacher[...]
Idaho’s laborious reversal in March
[caption id="attachment_280684" align="alignright" width="300"] Idaho job openings, hires and quits through March 2022. Click to enlarge. Graphic by Catie Clark.[/caption] Comparing March job statistics with February's, Idaho had the third-worst decline in the number of people hired and the largest hiring rate decline in the nation. Nationally, the number of hires and the hiring rate "was littl[...]
Biz ‘Bite:’ Ketchum puts affordable housing on ballot
Ketchum is asking its residents to vote on May 17 to increase the city's local options tax (LOT) and to use the funds raised to support affordable housing. As a resort community, Ketchum is one of the few municipalities allowed to use a LOT to supplement its tax revenue. Unlike other cities in the country, Idaho cities are not allowed to use any of the common strategies to support housing, such a[...]
Idaho labor situation improves
[caption id="attachment_279795" align="alignright" width="300"] Idaho labor force participation, employment to population ratio and unemployment rate from Nov. 2019 to Mar. 2022. Click to enlarge. Graph by Catie Clark[/caption] The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its state data on April 20 for hiring and firing, updating the labor profile for Idaho through the end of February 202[...]
What’s happening with Idaho’s workforce, wages? Panelists share insights, advice
Jani Revier, with the Idaho Department of Labor, set the scene: Idaho’s economy is one of the top performing economies in the nation, leading nine states in growth after the pandemic recovery Workforce participation is at a historic low, at 2.5%; economists consider 3-4% to be full employment Idaho’s workforce participation has dropped 2.5 percentage points from pre-pandemic l[...]
Biz ‘Bites:’ Idaho hires and quits
Walmart is hiring again The pandemic economy was good to some businesses, like Walmart as one example. As a result, Walmart announced on March 16 that it’s hiring — again. In that announcement, Walmart said: “As we are in our first quarter, we plan to hire more than 50,000 U.S. associates in our stores, clubs, campuses and supply chain facilities.” [caption id="attachment_231080" align[...]
Idaho Trucking Association turns to teens for help amid driver shortage
The Idaho Trucking Association (ITA) on Jan. 26 rolled out a new truck simulator project at Middleton High School in an effort to drive young adults toward an industry in dire need of new workers. Amid the backdrop of a job market in flux for young workers, thanks to the seemingly endless COVID-19 pandemic and businesses increasingly embracing automation, ITA began a sweep of visits to schools [...]
Unemployment at pre-pandemic levels despite high YOY quits. What will 2022 Idaho labor stats show?
[caption id="attachment_276219" align="alignright" width="300"] Changes in workforce, persons employed, job openings, separations and quits for June through Sept. 2021, in thousands. Click to enlarge. Graphic by Catie Clark[/caption] More than 4.5 million people quit their jobs in November nationally, which is an increase from the 4.3 million who did the same thing in October, according to the [...]
Idaho quits and other labor trends
[caption id="attachment_275775" align="alignright" width="300"] Idaho Labor Force Participation, Employment to Population Ratio and Unemployment Rate from Oct. 2019 to Oct. 2021. Click to enlarge. Graph by Catie Clark[/caption] Is the “Great Resignation” in Idaho fueled by people quitting their jobs? The number of Idaho workers who quit increased every month for the period of July through S[...]
Panelists offer insight into growth, workforce, other challenges
Nine panelists tackled navigating four of the hottest, and possibly most pressing, topics facing nearly every Idaho business today: growth, development, wages and the workforce. This panel discussion — Idaho Business Review’s annual Forum on the Future event — took place Dec. 9 at Boise Centre, with current advised COVID-19 precautions followed. Two moderators from presenting event sponsor H[...]
Diversity, Micron style
[caption id="attachment_238312" align="alignright" width="300"] Micron Technology. File photo[/caption] Micron Technology just put its money where its mouth is when it published its fourth annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) report on Dec. 6. It may seem that such documents are pro forma these days for any company hoping to don the garment of social responsibility, but Micron made some[...]
