A deeper dive into Idaho LAUNCH
BOUNDARY COUNTY — The new Idaho LAUNCH program is already reshaping workforce training throughout the state.
Idaho LAUNCH is a state program that provides financial support for Idaho workers seeking training and education for in-demand careers.
“Idaho LAUNCH is a great program and is participant driven,” said Rene Nelson, co-superintendent with Boundary County Road and Bridge. “Road and Bridge has utilized the program through employees taking CDL class A training.”
Due to new federal guidelines for obtaining and changing CDL classes, CDL 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 health care 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,” said the Idaho LAUNCH website.
The site offers tools to help career seekers match their existing skills with employer needs and find training opportunities for skills they may lack.
The survey included employers from throughout the state and asked them to identify the most relevant short-term skills that will help applicants be successful in their industries.
Of 845 responses, 91% of respondents were either managers or executive-level employees, and 96% reported 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 health care, transportation, and general business fields, as reported by Idaho LAUNCH. These employers value trustworthiness, problem-solving, and effective communication skills.
