September 2026 Newsletter

Workforce in Focus: Resources, Policy, and Southern Idaho's Future

Our Third Quarter Meeting brought business and community leaders together to explore workforce resources available to Southern Idaho employers and job seekers, the impact of changing federal workforce policies, and efforts to support agriculture and dairy industries with a legal, year-round workforce.

Thank you to our speakers U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, and Chet Jeppesen, Idaho Department of Labor Manager for South Central Idaho, for sharing their insights. We also appreciate our meeting sponsors Jerome 20/20 and Stratus Marketing, and our host Rosa Paiz, and her team at the El Sombrero Banquet Hall in Jerome.

Federal Workforce and Immigration Policy

Congressman Mike Simpson offered a broad look at issues shaping Idaho's future, from workforce and education to infrastructure and energy.

Workforce availability remains a significant challenge for communities across Idaho. Simpson discussed his efforts to advance workforce and immigration reform, emphasizing the need for a legal, reliable workforce while recognizing the contributions of people who have worked in Idaho's industries for decades.

"We need to fix what is wrong with our workforce and immigration system in general."

Simpson also had high praise for the College of Southern Idaho, particularly its TRIO programs, a group of federally funded outreach programs that help students overcome barriers to higher education. He described CSI as one of the nation's outstanding community colleges:

"CSI is one of the best community colleges in the country. They do it, and they do it right."

Sign up for Congressman Simpson's Newsletter

Chet Jeppesen's Slide Deck

Resources for Employers

Chet Jeppesen highlighted a number of Idaho Department of Labor resources designed to help employers connect with workers, understand the labor market and make informed workforce decisions.

www.IdahoWorks.gov is Idaho's free labor exchange system. Employers can search resumes of qualified job seekers, post openings, and receive assistance developing job descriptions.

Labor Market Information provides wage data, employment statistics and economic analysis to help businesses understand workforce trends and make informed decisions. Visit lmi.idaho.gov to explore a variety of tools and reports, including:

• The Occupational Employment and Wages Report (OEWS): Annual employment and wage estimates for approximately 830 occupations, searchable by region, state and nationwide.

• Around South Central Idaho: Economic Activity: South Central Idaho economist Seth Harrington publishes a monthly report highlighting employment, business and economic activity across our region. Look for links to the latest reports in this newsletter under Economic and Industry Reports.

• Idaho Economic Situation Report: Published monthly, this report provides state and national employment data and an overview of current economic conditions. Find it through the Idaho Labor Market Information portal under Labor Market News.

The Department of Labor also offers webinars throughout the year. On August 11, economists Brandon Duong and Ryan Whitesides presented Understanding Idaho's Hiring Indicators, examining Idaho's hiring landscape from the years before the pandemic through today.

Resources for Job Seekers and Future Workers

The Department of Labor also offers programs designed to help students, job seekers, dislocated workers and others prepare for careers and connect with employers.

Jobscape helps students and job seekers make informed decisions about careers and education by providing information about wages, occupational demand, career opportunities and training programs available throughout Idaho.

Other programs highlighted by Chet include:

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
• On-the-job training opportunities
• Registered Apprenticeship programs
• Idaho Launch
• Veteran Services
• Employer Seminars
• Business Services
• Conference Rooms Available

Together, these resources can help employers find and develop talent while giving Idaho workers clearer pathways to in-demand careers

Sign up for the Idaho Department of Labor's Newsletter

Looking Ahead

Workforce challenges continue to be one of the most important issues facing Southern Idaho employers. Addressing those challenges will require collaboration among businesses, educators, workforce organizations and policymakers at every level.

Business Plus appreciates the opportunity to bring state and federal leaders together with our business community to better understand the resources, policies and partnerships that can help strengthen our workforce and support Southern Idaho's continued growth and vitality.

Annual Reports:

Department of Labor and Apprenticeship Idaho

Comment on ITD's Long-Range Transportation Plan

The Idaho Transportation Department is seeking input on long-range planning for transportation across the state. View the plan online and submit comments at idaholrtp.com by September 20.

Comments will inform the update to ITD’s statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan, a federally required strategy document that is updated every five years and guides decisions for future studies and projects that are then approved by the Idaho Transportation Board. 

WalletHub Ranks Idaho as Best State

Ranking affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety, Idaho scores highest of all states with a score of 60.15 out of 100.

WalletHub states, "Idaho is the best state to live in, boasting one of the lowest median real estate tax rates in the country, at just 0.5%, along with the eighth-highest homeownership rate. It also has the fourth-lowest tax rates overall and the highest median household income growth, making it a great place to build and grow wealth."

"In addition, the Gem State has the seventh-lowest share of urban interstates experiencing congestion during peak hours. This naturally leads to some of the lowest average commute times in the country."

"To top things off, Idaho is a pretty safe state. It has the 14th0-lowest violent crime rate and the lowest property crime rate in the country."

Listen to Jerome 20/20's Executive Director Camille Barigar on the Shovel Talk podcast.

Economic and Industry Reports

Other News we are Following

Idaho Business Review, August 24, 2026: Idaho ranks second fastest growing state with 1.44% population increase

Times-News, August 22, 2026: Public input sought on Idaho's long-range plan for transportation. Review and comment on ITD's long-range plan before September 20, 2026.

Bonner County Daily Bee, August 11, 2026: State advisory council seeking tax breaks for economic development.

EastIdahoNews.com, August 11, 2026: First farm labor reform bill in 40 years could be a game-changer for Idaho's dairy industry

Times-News, July 31, 2026: Idaho to submit 'Opportunity Zone' proposals seeking tax breaks for economic development including Burley's Overland Avenue and Main Street corridor and Twin Falls Downtown, Main Avenue and Shoshone Streets.

Food & Drink International, June 9, 2026: Actus expands dairy protein capacity through Darigold deal and Darigold.com, June 2, 2026: Darigold and Actus Nutrition announce strategic partnership to unlock new value in specialty dairy proteins.

Thank you New and Renewing Investors!

COMMUNITY

Family Health Services

Hudson & Co.

New Leaf Properties*

Oregon Trail RV Park*

Sparklight*

Strategic Financial Group

Stratus Marketing

Twin Falls Handy Wash

Window Welder

LEGACY LEADERS

Leonard Anderson

Maxine Bell

Lance Clow

Cindy Collins

Chenele Dixon

Jeff Harris

Linda Hartgen, and in memory of

   Stephen Hartgen

Carleen Herring

Alan Horner

Dan Lloyd

Rex Lytle

Dave McAlindin

Mike McBride

Gregg Middlekauff

Gary Nelson

Dan Olmstead

Ruth Pierce

Jan Rogers

Amy Stahl

Rich Stivers

Jody Tremblay

Doug Vollmer

Lee Wagner

Deb Wilson

John Wright

SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT

Atlas Technical Services

Bank of Commerce

BBSI

Best Western Burley Inn

Columbia Bank

Con Paulos Chevrolet

D.L. Evans Bank

First Federal Bank

Frontier Community Resoures

Idaho Central Credit Union

Idaho Power

Jerome 20/20

KeyBank

Minidoka Memorial Hospital

Nu-Vu Glass

Packaging Specialties of Idaho

Pizza Factory

PMT

Sparklight

St. Luke's

Stratus Marketing

TOK Commercial

United Electric Co-op, Inc.

Watkins Distributing

Willamette Dental Group

WillTran, Inc.

*Indicates 10+ years of support since 2003

+includes additional promotional investment