Idaho Shows Robust Growth in Private Health Care

Idaho’s private health care industry has had one of the largest growth rates in the country and is projected to have one of the largest for the next decade. According to data from Economic Modeling Specialists International, Idaho’s health care industry expanded 46 percent between 2003 and 2013, an impressive growth rate considering the recession. This was the largest growth rate among the surrounding states and nationally second only to Arizona, where the sector grew 49 percent.

This robust growth is projected to continue into the next decade with Idaho’s health care sector growing another 35.5 percent by 2023. The rate was high enough to keep Idaho in second place among all states, this time behind Utah with a projected 35.7 percent growth.

Growth in health care occupations regardless of industry was also very strong, both during the last decade and projected into the future. Idaho is seventh nationally in terms of health care occupation growth since 2003 at 30.3 percent. Utah ranks second nationally and leads the region with 35.6 percent.

In terms of projected growth, Idaho is expected to do even better. With a 31.5 percent increase in health care occupations by 2023, Idaho moves to second in the nation just behind Utah’s 31.9 percent.

Wages for health care occupations are a mixed bag though. Comparing them to all other occupations in the state, they do well. Idaho health care occupation’s median wage is 40.5 percent higher than the all-occupation median wage. That is enough to put Idaho 12^th compared to the other states in terms of health care median as a percent of the median for all jobs. Nevada, Oregon and Montana all come in higher regionally. But comparing the actual median wage in Idaho drops the state to 35^th nationally. Only Montana had a lower median hourly wage for health care occupations in the region at $23.68.

More details on Idaho’s health care industry and data for all states are in the Idaho’s Health Care Industry Business Scan.

Andrew.Townsend@labor.idaho.gov, Regional Economist
(208) 332-3570, ext. 3455

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This article originally appeared in the November issue of the Idaho Department of Labor’s monthly economic and employment newsletter. Interested in reading more articles like this? Please send an email to Donna.Corn@labor.idaho.gov to subscribe to the newsletter.