Rosy outlook for jobs in east Idaho

If you’re looking for a job, the Idaho Department of Labor says you’re in luck.

National statistics show 26 percent of employers plan to add full-time, permanent jobs in the next couple of months, and experts say the trend keeps getting better. The number of jobs available is on the rise, creating opportunities for almost everyone.

“Try and go as high as possible, but don’t necessarily set your standards way too high,” said Derek Gunderson, a local Staples employee.

For Gunderson, finding a job when he recently moved to Idaho Falls was pretty easy.

“There’s always jobs available, it just may not be the job that you want,” said Gunderson.

And experts say he’s right. At least, in the Idaho Falls area.

“2011 was a good year for us, we were about 40 percent above where we were in 2010,” said Will Jenson, analyst at the Department of Labor.

And now, the number of jobs available is even higher. Experts say there are openings in healthcare, retail and agriculture, but that’s not all. Melaleuca and Cives Steel will be hiring soon too.

“There’s a few others that are not quite announced yet, but are planning on adding jobs,” said Jenson. “We could see 600 or 700 jobs in the next months with these projects combined.”

But if those types of jobs aren’t for you, being patient is your best option. More job openings will come toward the start of the new year.

“You just got to pay your dues until you can find that job that’s going to really suit you,” said Gunderson.

Now that the holiday season is fast approaching, experts say more job openings for seasonal retail will start popping up.

For a list of available jobs in our area, visit http://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/idl/jobsearch.aspx.