Double the Service – Idaho Labor, Commerce merge into single state department

It’s not the unemployment office, it’s not the employment office and it’s not Job Services anymore. It’s the Idaho of Commerce and Labor department http://cl.idaho.gov/portal/ , and on Thursday an open house and ribbon cutting was held to officially rename the office.

By RICK THOMAS
Staff writer

http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2004/09/05/business/bus01.txt

Employees, community members and others turned out to tour the facility and hear about programs and services offered at the newly consolidated state office.

"The merger expanded services to business and the community," said Jo Ann Edmiston, manager of the Coeur d’Alene office. "We get help with international trade, grants to expand business, government listings and tourism. It’s opened doors for us to help business."

Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, in his January State of the State speech, proposed the merger of the Labor and Commerce departments, and the Legislature approved it in their last session.

"Many times I’ve been in meetings with companies considering moving to Idaho," he said in that speech. "Even as the meetings ran into late nights and early mornings, the directors of Commerce and Labor have been by my side. I believe that by merging these departments, we can maximize our resources, eliminate redundant functions and services, while continuing to recruit and retain businesses and create jobs for hard-working Idahoans."

Rather than taking two large bureaucracies and making one huge, unwieldy department, the combination streamlined processes.

The state agencies in charge of employment services, job creation, tourism promotion and community development are now a single department called Idaho Commerce & Labor.

"Idaho now has a unified voice when it comes to economic policy and employment issues," said department director Roger Madsen. "Governor Kempthorne’s goal is to make our state a magnet for business and job creation. This new agency is a step closer to that vision."

The Department of Labor, with some 700 employees, was a large agency, while the Department of Commerce was considerably smaller, with only about 50 employees.

There are now 24 combined offices throughout Idaho.

"Now I have a branch office in all 24 locations," said Doug Thompson, business development specialist with the new department. "I can go to all 24 and use the facilities."

Thursday’s open house was held in all 24 offices in honor of Labor Day. Representatives from the department attended each.

"There’s hardly anybody in Boise," said Thompson.

The name change may take a while to get used to, but the increased focus could show results soon.

"They used to be called Job Service offices, but the name change means our mission is much broader," said Madsen. "We’ll continue to provide the same level of employment services, plus greater support for businesses, communities and travelers."

Among the area programs that will benefit is the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center.

The department will do the recruiting for Buck Knives and Sysco, a pair of major employers that will come into play in the coming year, and has already begun hiring for the U.S. Bank call center set to open next year.

The Workforce Training Center will be used as a training contractor for Buck and the call center, with up to $2,000 per new hire available from the state’s Workforce Development Training Fund. Sysco is also expected to make use of the service.

Edmiston said those interested in Buck jobs should contact the office right away, even though hiring will not begin until November, so they can be registered and accessible when the job order comes in.

Those jobs will include a wide range of opportunities, said Kathryn Tacke, regional labor economist for the department. She said up to 180 will be hired initially, and most will need to learn the Buck Knives manufacturing philosophy and technical processes.

She said training is expected to begin by January.

Sherry Wallis, director of the Qualified Worker Retraining program at the training center, said they received about $160,000 in funds through the state last year. That money is used for retraining adults whose jobs no longer exist or they can no longer perform.

"There’s a great collaborative effort between the two entities," she said.

Business development specialist Thompson said the integration of the departments will allow them to work with economic development agencies such as Jobs Plus to create jobs.

"We’ll find out where the jobs are, define the labor market and funnel information to employers," he said. "We’ll find gaps in the economy and find entrepreneurs to fill them."

As the Iraq war drags on, the problems of returning veterans will be an ever-important part of the department’s job.

"They’ll have to make sure they have a job when they come home," said Dusty Rhoads, Veterans of Foreign Wars District 1 commander. "There will be an adjustment period. This is one place they’ll be able to come to get help."

He said there have already been cases of Guardsmen who returned to find the jobs they held had been eliminated.

Dave Pafford, a veterans representative for the department, said they are working closely with businesses to ensure they know the rules on rehiring of National Guard members called to duty.

"By design, the small business employer is impacted," he said.

Early this year he sent letters to employers known to have been affected, advising them of programs and contacts available, and in July he sent out a resource guide to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act with an eye to preventing misunderstandings.

He also provided information to employers on ways of keeping in touch with their deployed employees, such as company Internet newsrooms and chatrooms.

Older workers also get help from the department.

"I spent three years trying to find a job at my age," said George Holcomb, 75, who visited during the open house to thank them for helping him get hired with the Panhandle Health District’s Senior Companion program.

Though it only pays a $2.65 per hour stipend, plus 30 cents per mile, it’s a nice supplement to his Social Security.

"It’s non-taxable," Holcomb said. "I get to keep it all."

Ricia Lasso, a senior consultant for the department, provided tours of the office on Ironwood Drive.

Departments include education and enforcement for employers and employees, including one person dedicated to finding fraudulent claims.

There are also low-income adult and dislocated worker training programs and youth programs providing everything from GED high school diplomas to life skills training.

The Employment Services Section provides vocational guidance and helps match skills to jobs.

An employer room is available for job interviews.

Especially popular is the bank of 40-plus computers and newspapers that provide "anything the job seeker needs," said Lasso.

That includes resumes and job search programs.

"It’s the most used room in Commerce and Labor," she said.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently rated Idaho’s department fifth in the nation in servicing unemployment claims, said Lasso.

The rating is based on factors including timeliness and accuracy of decisions, Lasso said.

"Our goal is to be number one," she said.

Rick Thomas can be reached at 664-8176, ext. 2005, or e-mail [email protected].