Idaho labor market remains tight

Idaho employers are offering about 10,000 job openings, including about 1,400 in the Panhandle, according to a state report released Tuesday. The number of job vacancies underscores a tight labor market, according to economists with the Idaho Department of Labor. In the five northern counties, most of the openings were in food service, housekeeping and customer service. Across the state, according to the report, there were 1.7 vacant jobs for every 100 filled jobs. The report is based on a survey of 3,100 businesses conducted in May and June. About a third of those businesses declared difficulties finding applicants with the right mix of education, experience and skills. About 40 percent of the job vacancies were newly created jobs, and the report’s authors suggested employers have begun to expand payrolls.