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People searching for work, creating their own employment, and stories about those in the Idaho work force.

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June 21, 2012

Quick Facts On Idaho’s Workforce Training Program

The Idaho Department of Labor has awarded 260 workforce development training grants since the program’s inception in 1996. Some of those contracts went to the same companies. Grants for training workers range from a few thousand dollars to a few million dollars. Quick Facts: 205 businesses have received workforce training grants since 1996 The planned […]

June 14, 2012

Jobless In Idaho: Short-Term Work Is A Short-Term Fix

For months now, our “Jobless in Idaho” series has followed people here in Idaho as they search for work against hard odds. Kelly Barker, a single mom from Meridian, had been out of work for the better part of a year when we met her last winter. Since then, she’s made do with a combination […]

June 13, 2012

Work Prospects Vary Not Just By Generation, But By Graduation Class

Here’s one lesson of the economic downturn: unemployment disadvantages different age groups in different ways. Yesterday, we revisited the problem of high teen unemployment, which is particularly severe here in Idaho. Labor economists predict the resulting lack of work experience among young people — especially those who can’t afford college or choose not to pursue […]

June 12, 2012

Out-Of-Work Idaho Teens Could Be Out Of Luck

The Associated Press highlights the problem of teen unemployment in piece published today. StateImpact devoted significant time to the issue earlier this year, not long after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing Idaho has one of the highest teen unemployment rates in the nation. Idaho’s teen unemployment rate was nearly 30 percent in […]

June 7, 2012

Unemployment Benefits Scaled Back As Idaho’s Jobless Rate Drops

As many as 500 Idahoans will lose unemployment benefits this week, according to the state Department of Labor. That termination of benefits was triggered when Idaho’s three-month average unemployment rate fell below 8 percent. The Idahoans losing benefits are those who have been in the program the longest, and who are in its final phase. […]

Boise Mayor Spotlights Refugees’ Welfare

The issue of refugees’ economic well-being has been a focus of ours here at StateImpact. This week, Boise Mayor David Bieter made refugee resettlement and employment one focus of his annual State of the City Address. Bieter had this to say: Over the last few years, in this tough economy, it became obvious to me […]

June 6, 2012

Vocational Certificates Have More Value In Idaho Than In Other States

Two-year postsecondary certificates hold more economic value in Idaho than in most other states. That’s according to a report released today that measures the value of vocational certificates. But, at the same time, Idaho ranks among the bottom ten U.S. states when it comes to the number of people with two-year postsecondary certificates. The report […]

May 31, 2012

Volatile Solar Industry Leads To Layoffs In Idaho

In the last two weeks, Idaho workers have gotten dismal news from two solar companies. First, Hoku Corporation said it would lay off 100 workers at its polysilicon plant in Pocatello. Polysilicon is used in solar panels. Then, on Tuesday, Transform Solar announced it will close, cutting 250 jobs.

May 29, 2012

Are Summer Jobs A Thing Of The Past?

Memorial Day weekend means the unofficial start to summer. Teens across Idaho will soon graduate or head out on summer break. Some of those teens, undoubtedly, are looking for a summer job. The Employment Policies Institute took a closer look at U.S. Census Bureau data that shows the average teen jobless rate among states is […]

May 23, 2012

For One Laid-Off Construction Worker, School Was The Only Option

Jesse Guyett fits unwillingly into a crumby statistic. He is one of about 20,000 Idahoans laid off from a construction job since the economy tanked after 2007. Idaho Department of Labor data show about 45 percent of the state’s construction jobs have been cut since 2007. Guyett is a journeyman electrician. He went to school […]

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