Welcome to the computer world, Idaho!

Yes, that statement sounds a bit tongue-in-cheek, but consider this: In the decade from 2004-2014, a category of jobs called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) grew by a healthy 11 percent nationally.

Yet in that same period, STEM jobs in Idaho basically flat-lined – up just a half of 1 percent.

“When you look at our current ‘Hot Jobs’ list, projected for the 10 years out through 2024, you’ll see software developers and computer systems experts at the very top, and by some distance,” said Sam Wolkenhauer, the Idaho Department of Labor’s regional analyst for Region 1 (North Idaho).

Indeed, that job category is projected to jump 37 percent by 2024, and offering a median wage just over $82,000 annually, to boot.

“What’s happening, really, is that we lagged behind the rest of the country for some time,” Wolkenhauer said, “and now we’re playing catch-up. But that offers some great opportunities for people in the tech industry to find excellent jobs here over the next few years.”

Wolkenhauer conceded that it wasn’t entirely clear why Idaho seemed out of touch with computer-related businesses for so long.

“Obviously, we don’t have a real base of IT companies in the state,” he said, “and for some time, the answer seemed to be that our technology needs were outsourced to other states.

“That would explain the lack of growth in STEM jobs through 2014, but the good news for job-seekers is that we’re now really in need of people in those professions.”

Wolkenhauer also noted that Idaho will be a great place for various health care workers to check out over the next few years.

On the Department of Labor’s “Hot Jobs” list, five health-related professions turn up among the top 15 professions — physical therapists, health specialties teachers, registered nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants.

All five of those job categories are expected to increase by a minimum of 20 percent by 2024, and the lowest median annual salary in the group is projected at $60,000 per year.

“Health care is an industry in need of qualified people,” Wolkenhauer said. “That’s probably not the same kind of surprise as our shortage of computer and technology professionals.”

Could the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump — who has vowed to gut the current Affordable Care Act — change the heath-care job situation?

“You can’t really even guess,” Wolkenhauer said. “There are two levels, and they’re both unknown: What kind of policy change might there be? And then once that’s decided, how will it affect us locally?

“I don’t think anyone can answer those questions — but overall, we’re still going to need qualified health-care workers, and more of them.”

Looking at some Department of Labor charts and statistics, it appears that Idaho is hurting for key professionals more desperately than most states with similar demographics.

Do we have some areas of strength?

“When that question comes up, I usually point to aerospace — particularly in and around Coeur d’Alene — and strong aerospace manufacturing,” Wolkenhauer said.

“It’s not like Idaho is just out in the job wilderness. It can seem like that at the moment because we got behind in those computer and technology areas.

“But we expect something of a boom there in the next few years. We’ll never be Silicon Valley or the Seattle area, but I think we’ll be comparable to most other basically rural states.

“It’s just taken us a little longer to get there.”

Information about available jobs, along with expectations for various professions in Idaho can be accessed through the Department of Labor’s web site: http://lmi.idaho.gov/projections