Idaho Department of Labor wants graduates

The Idaho Department of Labor has created a program to keep recent graduates in the Gem State.

Most students who attend college take minimum wage paying jobs just while they finish up their degrees.

Once they graduate they look forward to higher paying salaries.

However, they aren’t always joining the workforce in the same place they went to school, and that is causing an issue for the state of Idaho.

“Last fall, we did some research; we identified that there is going to be a gap of workers here in the state there’s going to be more jobs then workers. This is a critical issue for our businesses because if our businesses don’t have the employees to hire or the potential workforce to hire to grow, it can slow down the state’s economy,” said Dan Cravens, the Idaho Department of Labor’s Regional Economist.

The launching of the Choose Idaho website is one way the Labor Department is trying to tackle the situation.

It is using the low cost of living as bait for skilled workers along with higher wages.

“Which is an attempt by the state, the Idaho Department of Labor, to attract back into Idaho those people who have left or folks who would like to live here and enjoy the high quality of life that we have here in the state,” said Cravens.

One Idaho State University student who is set to graduate in 2017, said he can make double the salary going out of state to work.

“More money better opportunities outside of a small town,” said Dylan Miles.

However, the cheaper living does attract him back.

“Probably be gone, kind of been planning a year and half, two years, kind of mosey my way back here and settle down and build a house,” said Miles.