Labor / Workforce

The ability to draw from a quality workforce is one of the most important factors in successful business. Pocatello's close proximity to surrounding communities means our local
companies draw employees from a rich, diverse labor pool in excess of 130,000 individuals.

Bannock County's superior workforce allows area companies to hire ambitious and skilled individuals. High education levels, low absenteeism and turnover rates, and an unparalleled work ethic all come together to enhance employer satisfaction and increase productivity and profitability. 

Positive feedback from local employers singles out the area's rich quality of life as a major recruiting factor that allows for securing hard-to-find technical talent–an advantage that also leads to happier employees. This positive professional environment, in addition to a strong clustering of technology-based businesses, make Eastern Idaho home to the largest concentration of technical professionals in the northern Rocky Mountain region. In fact, of a region-wide population of 297,687 people, approximately 15% work in the high technology industry, compared to the national average of 9%.

Population of Counties Within 75-Mile Radius of Pocatello, Idaho Including Bannock County:
County 2007 Census 2007 Labor Force

Bannock:

80,812

39,649

Bingham:

43,903

21,469

Bonneville:

99,135

50,831

Butte:

2,751

1,579

Caribou:

6,826

3,290
Cassia

21,348 9,996
Franklin

12,454 6,517

Minidoka

18,645

9,344

Power:

7,683

3,756

Oneida:

4,130

2,386
TOTALS 297,687 148,817

The area's universities contribute significantly to the technological adroitness of the population base; however, several area employers, such as the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), ON Semiconductor and other key employers have a considerable impact on the technological composition of the area's workforce.

Employer surveys analyzed by the Wadley Donavan Group report the following about Southeastern Idaho's workforce:

  • Employers are highly satisfied with basic skills among job applicants.
  • Low average daily absenteeism&average annual employee turnover--an indicator of high employee loyalty.
  • Work ethic and productivity for existing employees ranks among the highest seen by the Wadley Donavan Group.

Learn more about our local work force at the Idaho Department of Labor.

Education

Eastern Idaho has one of the highest per-capita concentrations of PhDs in the nation, and high school graduation rates far exceed the national average. Several factors contribute to the premium placed on education here, but there is one salient point: People in Southeastern Idaho possess a remarkable work ethic, and education is seen as an integral part of achievement and productivity.

* Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2005-2007