Idaho Gov. Butch Otter issued an executive order today, following recommendations from the Governor’s Workforce Development Task Force, calling for the state’s 36-member workforce development council to be given more authority and to be “more independent and industry-driven.”

“Idaho businesses need a more nimble, responsive and focused effort to address a skills gap that threatens to leave us tens of thousands of workers short of the jobs we’re creating. Success means avoiding a serious drag on our economic growth that we just can’t afford,” Otter said in a news release. “These changes will help ensure that Idaho’s workforce is well prepared for the increasingly technical and challenging jobs of tomorrow.”

The governor said he plans to ask lawmakers, when they convene in January, to make changes in the law to match the task force recommendations. The changes announced Friday include naming an executive director for the council, Wendi Secrist; and creating an executive committee, with industry representation, within the council to set priorities. Up to now, the council has been an advisory group to the state labor director. You can read Otter’s executive order online here.