Little: Idaho needs job 'talent'

POST FALLS — North Idaho has taken huge steps to tap into booming industries like technology and aerospace, Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little said.

Now improvements need to be made to supply such businesses with skilled workers to complete the loop, he said.

"There is a need for talent," Little told Post Falls Rotary Club members at Garden Plaza on Wednesday.

Little, who is in the area this week for The Council of State Governments West annual meeting at The Coeur d'Alene Resort, said education and industry must continue to work together to attract employees to fill local high-tech jobs or bring such workers back.

Little said times have changed on the job front and adjusting to that will be a key to Idaho's future. Companies such as those in the wood products sector — once a backbone of the state's economy — employed hundreds of people years ago but may be down to 40 or 50 now because of technology changes and other factors.

Little said he recently visited a dairy in the southern part of the state in which robots do many of the duties, including cleaning the cows' udders.

"The operator of the dairy monitors things with his smart phone that his 12-year-old son helps him with," Little said. "More efficiencies with fewer people. That's where we are heading."

Idaho Forest Group uses drones to take inventory of the logs in its log yard, and sales of a robotic tractor without a seat are starting to surge.

Little said an opportunity to be tapped is using drones to fight wildfires.

"We are the center of the fire world," he said. "There's no reason that we in Idaho can't do the design work for small drones that hit the hot spots while it is cool."

Little said such technology would also take some of the pressure and safety risk off of firefighters.

Little said Idaho is the fastest growing state in the nation for employment, but there is a "dire" need for more talent in booming industries.

"Providing employees for those industries is our challenge," he said, adding that most companies are operating new equipment. "With all the technology companies that are coming here, we need to get the talent pipeline full."

Rotarian Jamé Davis, past president of the club and its current public relations chairwoman, asked Little what's working well in the state on education and industry collaboration.

Little said North Idaho College's new technical center in Rathdrum will be a model for other community colleges to follow.

"As we introduce technology into the classroom more, I'm always harping on institutions to be reflective of what the marketplace is," Little said.

Davis said take-home messages she heard were that the state is aware of and working toward addressing the talent shortage. She also heard resource-based industries such as mining, timber and agriculture are still alive and well thanks to diversification.

"With the advanced technology, these industries are able to be more efficient, profitable and competitive globally," she said. "The state is also working to achieve the goals set for graduation rates for higher education. This will be a competitive advantage when competing against other states with economic development projects."

Idaho, Little said, offers advantages to high-tech industries.

"If we've got the industrial space, we can build cheaper and better here to create jobs for students and communities in Idaho," he said.

Even with the challenge of attracting talented workers to Idaho, Little said he believes the state is ahead of many others.

"We've got some problems in Idaho, but I had breakfast with New Mexico legislators who are talking about a four-day school week, raising taxes and cutting spending," he said. "Some states were ahead of us, but it's payback time now."