Does Idaho have a professional pipeline?

QUESTION: I keep reading and hearing about how Idaho needs people with skills, and a workforce that can match new technology. Apparently, Maine has a specific person who is its director of recruiting and runs the state’s entire effort to bring in younger professionals. Does Idaho have anyone like that?

ANSWER: Whoa, are you reading mail addressed to the lieutenant governor?

Been snooping around Boise late at night?

Just last week, Brad Little sat in a conference room at The Press and told us he’d just gotten the full information on Maine’s program and was studying it carefully.

“It’s considered one of the best and most efficient ways of keeping good young people in the state, and convince former residents to come back,” Little said.

“We’re definitely open to any ideas and any programs that will work, so we’re looking at it.”

For the record, yes, Maine does have a pitchman on its payroll.

Ed McKersie technically falls into the private sector because he has his own company, ProSearch. But nearly three decades ago, the state hired him to recruit outsiders to Maine — which is demographically the oldest and whitest state in the nation.

It’s also mind-numbingly cold in the winter.

McKersie set up a campaign called “Live and Work in Maine.” He has created a list of former Maine university students who have left the state, and so on.

“We see the folks that have already been here as lower-hanging fruit, if you will,” McKersie said during an interview on NPR. “We’re really sincere about marketing the quality of life that Mainers enjoy, and people who have been here know exists.”

Maine and Idaho have a lot in common, not least their populations (1.3 million and 1.7 million, respectively), plenty of outdoor activity, a serious need for young professionals to fill an increasing number of excellent jobs — and yes, some moose.

However, to answer your original question...

No, Idaho does not exactly have an Ed McKersie. But we’re not exactly sleeping at the wheel, either.

“We’re doing it with people in different roles,” said Megan Ronk, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce.

“On the workforce side, we definitely try to stay in touch with anyone who has lived in Idaho and left. We want them to know that now there are incredible jobs available in all parts of the state.”

Ronk noted that, rather than have a single person in charge, her department works regularly with local organizations all over Idaho — including what used to be called Jobs Plus in Kootenai County (now known as the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corp.).

“We like the advantage of having partners in North Idaho, the Treasure Valley and so on to help sell those special areas,” Ronk said.

Would Idaho ever turn the top recruiting job over to someone like Maine’s Ed McKersie?

“So far, I think we’ve got an efficient system,” Ronk said. “But believe me, we’re open to any ideas — including that one.”