The Idaho Workforce Development Council was established to provide strategic direction and oversight of Idaho’s workforce development system. The Council members represent business, workers, education, state and local government and community based organizations. The primary role of the Council is to advise Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and the State Board of Education on strategies designed to yield high quality workforce investment services for Idaho’s businesses, job seekers, and students. Jerome businessman Con Paulos chairs the Council; B. J. Swanson, Vice President of AmericanWest Bank of Moscow is the vice chair.

Since its inception in 1996, the Council has provided critical leadership in many system reforms. The IdahoWorks Career Center System, created under the direction of the Council, represents a major advancement in Idaho’s workforce development service system. It signals improved access for Idaho’s business, students and job seeking customers, improved systems of matching workers with jobs, and expanded coordination among state and local workforce partners. The Council has also directed implementation of Idaho’s School to Work effort, the Idaho Workforce Development Training Fund (an investment program for training workers in new or expanding businesses), Idaho’s work related welfare reform initiatives and implementation of the Workforce Investment Act.