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Industry Sings Blue Collar Blues State Asked To Help With Training For Workers Who Don’t Go To College

Betsy Z. Russell And Erica Curless S Staff writer

If Idaho’s industries are to succeed, the state needs to focus on strong education in high school and beyond, industry representatives told a legislative committee Friday.

“There’s an elitism in higher education in this state,” said Dean Haagenson, owner of Contractors Northwest in Coeur d’Alene and a former Republican state representative. “Somehow learning to be a good plumber or electrician is something they don’t view as very worthwhile.”

Haagenson’s concerns mirror those of many Idaho officials. The state Board of Education has formed a “70 Percent Committee,” which is working to improve education for the 70 percent of Idaho students who don’t complete a college degree. Several budget requests for the committee’s projects are before the Legislature for consideration this year.

Representatives of the timber and hospitality industries also expressed concerns about education.

“One of the problems we have is finding good, qualified, educated employees to work in sawmills,” said Jim English, president of Idaho Forest Industries and head of the Intermountain Forest Industry Association.

“They don’t have to be college-educated. But they do have to be able to read and write and do math, and use technical equipment,” much of which is now computerized.

David Hand, head of the Idaho Hospitality & Travel Association, said employers in his industry are having trouble finding employees with basic job skills, like self-discipline and an ability to understand and follow directions.

The comments came as the Legislature’s Economic Outlook Committee held its annual hearings to determine the state of Idaho’s economy. After hearing from representatives of many industries, government agencies and experts, the committee will decide whether to accept the governor’s projections of how much state revenue will grow in the coming year.

The committee can set a different figure, if it chooses. The number is important because it is used to set the state budget.

Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls, co-chair of the committee, said state revenues are running higher than last year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the state should spend more.

“I think we need to budget for need, and that about says it,” she said. “It isn’t how much money you have and how are you going to divide it, but what do we really need and how are we going to pay for it.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE GIVE MIXED OUTLOOK FOR NORTH IDAHO ECONOMY The outlook from representatives of key North Idaho industries was mixed. Here are some of their forecasts: Construction: No boom, no bust, just a modest overall growth of 3 to 4 percent in Idaho construction this year, Haagenson told the committee. He predicted a slow increase in residential construction, and another strong year for commercial construction, which he said tends to lag two years behind residential building. Trailing commercial building is the construction of public works such as schools and highways. Demands for infrastructure are large, but money is scarce, Haagenson said. He added a pitch for a plan to improve Highway 95: It would bring immediate economic benefits to the state by opening up transportation lines and providing jobs. Mining: An 18-year low in gold prices means big trouble for Idaho gold mines, according to Jack Lyman of the Idaho Mining Association. If gold prices continue to drop, about 350 to 375 employees of Idaho gold mines could be at risk. Phosphate and molybdenum production will remain strong, while silver prices may see a slight increase from the current $6 per ounce price, Lyman predicted. Timber: Thanks largely to private timberlands, the timber industry should remain stable for the next five years, English predicted. “There is not going to be a lot more plant closings,” he said. “Private timberland is going to continue to supply the industry at its present level. I think we are probably in pretty good shape.” Hospitality: Idaho’s hospitality industry has seen an overbuilding of hotels and restaurants, Hand said, that has led to lower occupancy levels as the customers are divided between the new choices. Wages have increased, he said, further pressuring those operating the businesses. Transportation: The committee heard from representatives of Union Pacific Railroad and the Idaho Motor Transport Association. Charles Clark of the railroad noted the company’s long history of serving Idaho. Paul Sudmeier of the trucking association said the trucking industry is growing, largely because businesses are increasingly managing their inventories based on a “just in time” shipping strategy. Sudmeier also said truckers will push for an increase in maximum weights this year. Some surrounding states, like Utah, have limits much higher than Idaho, he said, leading to “a 12-ton payload disadvantage every time you move something.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE GIVE MIXED OUTLOOK FOR NORTH IDAHO ECONOMY The outlook from representatives of key North Idaho industries was mixed. Here are some of their forecasts: Construction: No boom, no bust, just a modest overall growth of 3 to 4 percent in Idaho construction this year, Haagenson told the committee. He predicted a slow increase in residential construction, and another strong year for commercial construction, which he said tends to lag two years behind residential building. Trailing commercial building is the construction of public works such as schools and highways. Demands for infrastructure are large, but money is scarce, Haagenson said. He added a pitch for a plan to improve Highway 95: It would bring immediate economic benefits to the state by opening up transportation lines and providing jobs. Mining: An 18-year low in gold prices means big trouble for Idaho gold mines, according to Jack Lyman of the Idaho Mining Association. If gold prices continue to drop, about 350 to 375 employees of Idaho gold mines could be at risk. Phosphate and molybdenum production will remain strong, while silver prices may see a slight increase from the current $6 per ounce price, Lyman predicted. Timber: Thanks largely to private timberlands, the timber industry should remain stable for the next five years, English predicted. “There is not going to be a lot more plant closings,” he said. “Private timberland is going to continue to supply the industry at its present level. I think we are probably in pretty good shape.” Hospitality: Idaho’s hospitality industry has seen an overbuilding of hotels and restaurants, Hand said, that has led to lower occupancy levels as the customers are divided between the new choices. Wages have increased, he said, further pressuring those operating the businesses. Transportation: The committee heard from representatives of Union Pacific Railroad and the Idaho Motor Transport Association. Charles Clark of the railroad noted the company’s long history of serving Idaho. Paul Sudmeier of the trucking association said the trucking industry is growing, largely because businesses are increasingly managing their inventories based on a “just in time” shipping strategy. Sudmeier also said truckers will push for an increase in maximum weights this year. Some surrounding states, like Utah, have limits much higher than Idaho, he said, leading to “a 12-ton payload disadvantage every time you move something.”