Build a Stronger Workforce. Earn Recognition for Excellence.
Manufacturers across the country face the same challenge — finding, training, and keeping skilled talent.
The Manufacturing Employer of Choice Program helps you measure, improve, and showcase what makes your company a great place to work.
Key Points:
- Workforce retention and engagement are top competitive factors.
- Recognition helps attract new hires and strengthen morale.
- Data-driven insight leads to better performance and culture.
Your commitment to workforce excellence sets the standard across the state.
Measure What Matters – in Three Simple Steps
Step 1: Employer Assessment (90%)
Leaders complete a brief online survey covering policies, benefits, training, and safety systems.
Step 2: Employee Engagement Survey (10%)
Employees confidentially share their workplace experience — giving an authentic view of culture and leadership.
Step 3: Results & Recognition
You receive a comprehensive report, improvement recommendations, and an official designation.
Recognition Levels:
🏅 Gold – 85-100 🥈 Silver – 75-84 🥉 Bronze – 65-74
What’s in it for you?
Attain Data-Driven Insights to Fuel Success
Use the assessment to pinpoint and tackle key recruitment and retention obstacles.
Enhance Employee Engagement & Satisfaction
Empower your workforce by leveraging the built-in engagement survey to build a culture that drives performance.
Boost Retention & Increase Profitability
Let the assessment help you reduce turnover by setting clear benchmarks today that drive better outcomes tomorrow. Achieve higher profitability through reduced turnover costs and better productivity.
Be Recognized & Build Your Employer Branding
Your path to being named a top employer starts here—complete the assessment and you could be honored as a leading employer at this year’s Idaho Manufacturing Tradeshow & Conference.
What is an Employer of Choice?
An “Employer of Choice” is an organization that both current and prospective employees recognize as an exceptional place to work. These organizations go beyond offering competitive pay and benefits by creating a positive, supportive, and growth-focused culture. They prioritize work-life balance, professional development, and employee well-being. Achieving this status signals that your company invests in its people and is committed to attracting and retaining top talent.
Job Quality Matters
Today’s manufacturers face significant challenges in attracting and retaining a skilled, engaged workforce. As hiring and training new employees requires a considerable investment of time and resources, it’s crucial to keep your existing workforce motivated and productive to maximize that investment.
Discover what it takes to become an employer of choice by examining the key elements of job quality:
- Competitive Compensation and Benefits – Does the job offer adequate pay, essential health benefits, and reliable working hours?
- Career Growth and Advancement – Does the company provide clear pathways for career progression and skill development?
- Accountability and Support – Does the workplace encourage accountability, build strong working relationships, and include employees in ongoing improvement initiatives?
- Recognition and Employee Value – Does the company acknowledge and reward employee contributions, fostering a culture where hard work and dedication are appreciated?
- Workplace Safety and Environment – Does the organization prioritize a safe, well-maintained work environment that supports productivity and minimizes risks?
Remember, job quality goes beyond wages and benefits. It also involves workplace safety, opportunities for advancement, recognition of achievements, and a culture that supports each individual’s professional development. By prioritizing these factors, your organization can become a place where employees choose to stay and grow.
How to Become an Employer of Choice
Workers seek quality jobs, and companies that prioritize job quality become employers of choice.
Today’s workforce seeks more than just a paycheck—they want a workplace that supports their growth and success. Becoming an employer of choice involves more than offering a good benefits package. It requires adopting effective practices that enhance employee morale, engagement, and productivity.
To guide manufacturers on this journey, IMA provides a no-cost online assessment that delivers valuable benchmarking data. With these insights, employers can identify strengths, address areas needing improvement, and take informed steps to attract and retain high-performing talent.
The Assessment
The assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of an organization’s current state in employment practices, identifying key factors that contribute to its status as an employer of choice. It analyzes HR metrics including recruitment and hiring strategies, employee turnover rates, revenue per employee, and promotion practices.
Beyond data, it includes an employee engagement survey that evaluates motivation, engagement, and perceptions of company culture. This dual perspective gives organizations a clear view of strengths and opportunities for growth.
The Idaho Manufacturer Employer of Choice Survey is structured into six main sections:
- Recruitment, Hiring, Turnover, Growth & Promotion
- Upskilling and Skill Building
- Benefits
- Worker Financial Wellness
- Employee Support and Working Environment
- Employee Engagement Survey