Address the Food Processing and Manufacturing Talent Gap
Join the Collaborative
Food Processing and Manufacturing are Among the Fastest Growing Industries in Idaho
As a nation, we depend on manufacturing and food processing companies, but supply chain issues magnify significantly without a trained workforce willing to engage in the necessary roles.
Job Statistics
- Over 140 open positions
- Over 250 more food processing jobs coming to the Magic Valley in 2022
- 89% of employers have trouble finding qualified applicants
The problems Magic Valley Manufacturing companies face:
- Not enough people interested in a career in manufacturing and food processing.
- Lack of diversity in the current employee base. Women only account for 18% of the manufacturing roles.
- Challenge to train and upskill employees or potential employees affordably.
The CSI Workforce Collaborative Solution
- Our school-to-registered apprenticeship program was created to address the need for more entry-level skilled Machine Operators. We now have 10 Jerome High School students being trained as a machine operator during their last years of high school and work full-time in a career during the summer.
- The Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program allows individuals to earn while they learn on the job and provides local companies with a way to upskill and invest in their employees with ease. Our first 2023 program has 32 individuals enrolled and will continue to grow.
- Together with community partners, we’re supporting a Child Care Collaborative to address the issue of quality, affordable, and accessible childcare for manufacturing employees who often work 12-hour shifts. We believe childcare is a community and employer responsibility with a very high return on investment and should not solely rest on the backs of parents.
- Learn more by contacting Kelsey Skinner; Magic Valley Early Learning Project Manager at Magicvalleyearlyed@unitedwayscid.org OR (208) 320-6403.
Our Current Partners
