• Idaho Legislative Update
• Unemployment Rate Remains at Historic Low
• Idaho Dominates Men's Journal 'Best Places to Live' List
• Idaho's 2005 Exports Exceed $3.2 Billion
• Average Idaho Wages Increase by 3 Percent
• Department Reduces Unemployment Insurance Fraud
• Idaho Falls Highlighted in SkyWest Magazine
• Hispanic Buying Power Grows
• Emphasis on Education Stressed at Economic Symposium
• Burley, St. Anthony and Weiser Receive Grants
• India Delegation Visits Idaho
• HP Executive Recognized for Bringing Jobs to Idaho
• On-the-Job Training Funds Available
• SBIR Program Helps Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
• Calendar of Events

The Month's Top Stories

Idaho Legislative Update
State lawmakers are still considering several bills affecting Idaho Commerce & Labor, but they have already renewed the Workforce Development Training Fund program for another five years, updated the Employment Security law to accommodate last year's unemployment insurance revision and gave the department another money management tool to deal with federal budget cuts. A sales tax incentive for movie makers and usable incentives for small business expansion are nearing final approval as is the new budget, which includes more money for rural development grants, international trade efforts and assistance for high-tech enterprises. "Thanks to the efforts of Governor Kempthorne and our Legislature, 2006 has been one of the best economic development sessions ever," said Idaho Commerce & Labor Director Roger B. Madsen. Look for a complete summary of the 2006 Legislature in the April edition of Commerce & Labor Connections.

Unemployment Rate Remains at Historic Low
Idaho's February unemployment rate remained at an historic low. The rate of 3.3 percent was unchanged from January, which was Idaho's lowest ever unemployment rate. The national unemployment rate in February was 4.8 percent, up a tenth from January. During the first two months of this year, the number of workers with jobs in Idaho increased by over 16,700 to put employment at a record high 737,000, the 34th straight month employment has risen.

Idaho Dominates Men's Journal 'Best Places to Live' List
Four Idaho communities were named to the Men's Journal "Best Places to Live" list in the magazine's April edition. The four communities on the list included Boise, Sandpoint, McCall and Last Chance. Located near Henry's Fork, Last Chance was named a "Mecca" for its world-class fly fishing, while McCall made the list as one of "Most Active Towns" for its proximity to two lakes and two ski resorts.  Boise was named as an "Adventure City" and credited for being a "friendly, bike-mad place." Idaho's capital was also recognized for having lots of green space, cheap real estate and a river flowing through town.  Sandpoint was named one of several "Telecommunities" for its surge of entrepreneurs who have flocked to the panhandle town for its abundant sources of outdoor recreation.

Idaho's 2005 Exports Exceed $3.2 Billion
Exports of the state's goods and services in 2005 exceeded $3 billion for only the second time, riding another significant wave in the sales of Idaho's high tech products. International demand for computer chips and agriculture products made China - including Hong Kong - Idaho's top trading partner for the first time with purchases in 2005 reaching $554.5 million. The last time an Asian nation was the state's top trading partner was 1997 when Japan purchased nearly $327 million in goods.

Average Idaho Wages Increase by 3 Percent                               Estimated average wages paid to Idahoans were up by 3 percent in 2005, according to the 2006 Idaho Occupational Employment and Wage Survey released in February by Idaho Commerce & Labor. The annual survey compiles wage data for 22 major occupational groups. In 2005, Idaho workers earned an estimated average wage of $16.12 an hour or nearly $33,530 a year.

Department Reduces Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Stricter penalties and an increased ability to uncover violations allowed Idaho Commerce & Labor to recover more than $3.9 million in unemployment insurance fraud and overpayments during 2005. "We stepped up our efforts to recover overpayments and it's paying off," said Idaho Commerce & Labor Director Roger B. Madsen. "Thanks to the support of the Legislature and some newly automated cross-checking methods, our unemployment insurance employees recovered 44 percent more in 2005 than in 2004." In 2004 the department recovered $2.7 million in fraud and overpayments.

Idaho Falls Highlighted in SkyWest Magazine
Idaho Falls is highlighted in the March/April edition SkyWest Magazine, the in-flight publication for SkyWest Airlines. The city was credited for its growth in population - a 25 percent increase since 1990 - and its efforts to reduce its dependence on the Idaho National Laboratory by attracting new companies to the city. The article profiles companies located in the city including DocuTech Corp. and North Wind Inc.

Hispanic Buying Power Grows
The contribution to Idaho's economy from Idaho's Hispanic population continues to increase. According to a briefing paper released in February by the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, from 1990 to 2005, Hispanic buying power in Idaho rose more than twice as fast as total buying power across the state.

Strong Education System Benefits Economy

Ed Barlow, one of the nation's leading futurists and president of Creating the Future Inc., of St. Joseph, Mich., talks with Idaho Governor  Dirk Kempthorne following the governor's keynote presentation at the 2006 Idaho Economic Symposium Jan. 31 in Boise.  The event  sponsored by Idaho Commerce & Labor with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, focused on the important relationship between Idaho's economy, employment and education. More than 300 people attended the event, which included guest speakers and regional breakout sessions. Barlow, who was the keynote speaker for the event, said Idaho's leaders need to spend more money on education if they want the growth in the state's economy to continue. (Photo by Connie Cleveland)

On The Job Training Funds Available
A new on-the-job training program to help qualified businesses reduce the cost of training new employees is now available in northern, southwestern, south central and southeastern Idaho. The Idaho Commerce & Labor program is funded through the Workforce Investment Act and will reimburse businesses an average of $1,500 to $2,000 per employee to train eligible disadvantaged workers and those facing barriers to employment. To find out more about the program or to apply visit any local Commerce & Labor office. A listing of local offices is available at cl.idaho.gov  or in the telephone directory under the state government listings.

SBIR Program Helps Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
Help for entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking federal funding to develop technology businesses, products, research and development is available through the Idaho Small Business Innovation Research Program. The program can assist entrepreneurs and businesses in applying for federal grants. For more information about the services available through the SBIR program, visit technology.idaho.gov/sbir or contact Jeff Viano, Idaho SBIR Program coordinator at 208-334-2650 ext. 2118 or sbir@cl.idaho.gov.

Calendar of Events