Could Boise, Idaho be the next big tech center? Many tech jobs open.
| January 9, 2008 |  View for printing |
"It's all about producing high-tech workers," he said. "If we keep focusing on agriculture at the legislative level, we're not recognizing where all the big-dollar jobs are and where the future is. We don't want to just be an agrarian state, and we don't want to be the state with the lowest number of high-school graduates moving on to higher education."
Treasure Valley tech-company executives like the quality of life and cost of living here. But they're desperate for workers with computer skills. More than 300 software jobs are open right now.
Ken Dey BY KEN DEY - kdey@idahostatesman.com
Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepie ... 259356.html
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Idaho Commerce Director Jim Ellick says Idaho must compete with other states for tech jobs
Jim Ellick, a technology industry veteran and private investor from California's Silicon Valley, is director of the Idaho Department of Commerce. He says Idaho should consider what other states provide in incentives for high-tech companies. “They’re our competition,” he said.
By Ken Dey - kdey@idahostatesman.com
Visit Idaho's new Commerce Director Jim Ellick, and one of the first things he'll point to on his bookshelf is a photo of the Kool-Aid's cartoon pitcher face with a big "X" through it.
There's nothing humorous about the meaning Ellick draws from the symbolism.
"There's no Kool-Aid drinking around here," Ellick says. "The facts are the facts, and people can deal with them or not. I'm a business guy - life is what it is."
Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/busine ... 259025.html
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Leaders say tech sector still needs to be cultivated As Idaho's tech sector evolves, awareness must rise, executive says.
By Ken Dey - kdey@idahostatesman.com
Idaho's technology sector is moving away from manufacturing toward software firms whose goods and services are often invisible, a Boise tech executive told more than 400 state legislators and business leaders Tuesday.
Jefferson Jewell, co-founder of Blackfin Technology in Boise, told the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce's annual legislative luncheon that awareness of the technology industry needs to rise. He said tech is not located just in the Treasure Valley, where tech giants like Micron and Hewlett-Packard.
Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/busine ... 260072.html
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If benefits keep good workers, why cut them?
Let's say you work for the state in a high-demand profession such as a nursing or computer programming. Your supervisor says, "I'm giving you a 5 percent raise. The state is committed to paying its workers enough to be competitive with the private sector."
"Great!" you reply. "Am I going to get a comparable raise in benefits?"
Your boss swallows hard.
"Actually, we're cutting those," she says.
That's what Gov. Butch Otter wants. Idaho pays 15 percent less, on average, than its employees would get in the private sector, but the benefits are better.
Full Story: http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/ ... /128315.txt
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Most Idaho companies have hard time finding employees.
According to a recent survey 30 out of 36 companies plan to hire in 2008.
By Ken Dey - kdey@idahostatesman.com
Most Idaho high-tech companies share similar concerns about finding and recruiting employees.
A survey of 36 Idaho companies by accounting firm KPMG for the Idaho Statesman found that 27 of the companies find it somewhat or very difficult to recruit and retain employees.
Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/busine ... 259033.html
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