MARCH NIBJ: Idaho LAUNCH, employee training resource

Idaho LAUNCH provides training opportunities for Idaho residents, whether they are looking for courses to boost their resume or enter a new industry.

Powered by workforce trends, labor data and insights into the future job growth in the state, Idaho LAUNCH aims to be the research hub for professional reset. 

Employees can utilize the program to gain experience and needed training through the program. 

“Idaho Launch is a great program and is participant driven.” Rene Nelson, co-superintendent with Boundary County Road and Bridge. “Road and Bride has utilized the program through employees taking CDL class A training.”

Due to new federal guidelines for obtaining and changing CDL classes, CDL training has testing is no longer done locally. By utilizing Idaho Launch, Road and Bridge has been able to overcome training obstacles, as currently less employees and applicants come with a CDL. 

When applicants have applied to the county department without a CDL, Nelson has recommended they look into the Idaho LAUNCH program and take advantage of the educational opportunities in order to enter the trucking industry. 

“We’ve seen the benefits for employees in the program, which has also helped the county,” Nelson said. 

Idaho LAUNCH offers much more than CDL training, including courses by numerous Idaho and online institutions from across industries, from healthcare to construction, aerospace and much more. 

Idaho residents may qualify for tuition assistance for training and education programs. 

Courses are organized by skill learning, such as CPR, deal closing, carpentry, point of sale optimization and more. 

“Through a statewide survey of Idaho employers, we identified the in-demand skills currently needed in our state,” Idaho LAUNCH officials wrote. “This website features tools that help you match your skills with employer needs and research training opportunities for skills you may be lacking.”

Organizers conducting a survey, asking Idaho employers from every region of the state to complete a to identify the most relevant short-term skills that will help applicants be successful in their industries. 

Of the 845 responses;  91% of respondents were either managers or executive-level employees, and 96% stated they had influence in the hiring process.  The top five responding industries were construction, general business, healthcare, transportation and manufacturing and hospitality/tourism.

After surveying employers, their needs were compared with Idaho’s job postings in order to “focus on the most in-demand skills” in every region of the state. Using this data, the SKILL SYNC, a tool that allows jobseekers to match their current skills to employer needs, identify opportunities for professional development, and research specific courses to build their resume.

Nine Idaho public institutions and online training providers were interviewed, to match the current course offerings to the skills in highest demand in each region. Featured courses are updated regularly as new training becomes available. 

Idaho LAUNCH has partnered with the Idaho Department of Labor to provide career planning and an evaluation of training funds in order to help job seekers find a quick path to the training they need, at a cost they can afford. 

Currently in North Idaho, employers are looking for employees with special skills in healthcare, transportation, and general business fields, as reported by Idaho LAUNCH. These employers value trustworthiness, problem-solving, and effective communication skills.