Your Business: Idaho Industrial Employment Climbed 2.6 Percent Last Year and More

Idaho Industrial Employment Climbed 2.6 Percent Last Year

TWIN FALLS For a second straight year, industrial employment in Idaho increased, reported Manufacturers News Inc. (MNI), the nations largest publisher of industrial directories.

Idaho gained 1,974 manufacturing jobs from October 2012 to October 2013, or 2.6 percent, outpacing the previous years gain of 1.5 percent and 2 percent higher than the national average gain reported by the U.S. Department of Labor during the same period.

Idaho is now home to 2,114 manufacturers, employing 75,758 workers, MNI reported.

Following the recessions severe losses, Idaho manufacturing employment is beginning to bounce back, said Tom Dubin, president of the Evanston, Ill.-based publishing company. The state maintains a winning mix of abundant natural resources, educated workforce and low business costs, resulting in many companies reinvesting in its manufacturing sector, particularly those in the food products sector.

Tax Commission Offers Free Online Tax Filing

BOISE Idaho taxpayers can file their federal and state income tax returns for free at the State Tax Commission website, tax.idaho.gov, said Leslie Jones, Tax Commission spokeswoman.

Last year, three-fourths of Idahoans filed their individual income taxes online, said Doreen Warren, the commissions revenue operations administrator. But of the 590,000 who e-filed, only about 26,000 of them took advantage of the free file program. Wed like to get the word out about these free opportunities and see if we can help more people save money.

To view free filing options, go to tax.idaho.gov and click on the free individual income tax filing link under the Quick Picks section. Those who e-file must use the same provider to file both federal and state returns.

US Regulators Close Boise Lender

More:
Your Business: Idaho Industrial Employment Climbed 2.6 Percent Last Year and More