More tech job opportunities coming to Pocatello as businesses expand

Pocatello is seeing the benefits of low-unemployment. This week a national cyber security and data management company named Buchanan and Edwards announced it is bringing new jobs to Pocatello. With the increase in companies looking to hire employees in Pocatello, one of the big questions is are there enough locally qualified candidates?

Dan Cravens, the director of Bengal Solutions, answered that question by first saying these types of jobs will positively impact the community. However, Cravens added that Pocatello probably does not have enough qualified candidates to fill all of these future positions.

“The only caveat is that we probably locally do not have the workforce, the folks with the right skills and education to keep these jobs,” said Cravens.

The director of Bannock Development weighed in and said the good news is, Idaho State University will help prepare students to get these types of technical jobs.

“Idaho State University is a major, is probably a paramount resource that we have for this high tech growth and expansion. So they will supply a bulk of technical talent,” said John Regetz, the director of Bannock Development.

While not everyone is qualified or even wants to apply for these types of jobs, local businesses will benefit from these new job opportunities.

“There will be more disposable income in our local economy. There will be more money to shop at various stores. You are probably going to see a nice bump in real estate where people are starting to buy bigger homes, nicer homes,” commented Cravens.