NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2021
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Salvador Vazquez, Salvador.Vazquez@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3% from May to June.

Total employment grew to 875,305, up 0.1% (+1,152), while total unemployment dropped -0.8% (-221) to 27,103.

Idaho’s labor force grew by one-tenth of a percent to 902,408 (+931), marking three consecutive months of gains. The labor force participation rate decreased from 62.7% to 62.6%.

In June, Idaho’s nonfarm payroll jobs jumped to 789,700, up 0.8% (+6,200) from 783,500 in May. Industries with job gains that exceeded expectations included information (+6.9%), state government (+3.8%), natural resources (+2.6%), other services (+2%), accommodation and food services (+1.7%), construction (+1.4%), education and health services (+1.1%), finance and insurance (+1%), local government (+0.7%), professional and business services (+0.6%), wholesale trade (+0.3%), and durable goods manufacturing (+0.3%).

Five Industries experienced greater-than-expected job losses in June: federal government (-4.3%), arts, entertainment and recreation (-1.5%), real estate, and rental and leasing (-0.9%), nondurable goods manufacturing (-0.3%), and retail (-0.1%). Transportation, warehousing and utilities saw no change.

Each of Idaho’s five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) saw nonfarm job gains. Pocatello experienced the largest gain at 2.9%, followed by Idaho Falls at 1.1%, Boise at 1%, Coeur d’Alene at 0.9% and Lewiston at 0.7%.

Year-over-Year

June’s year-over-year labor market numbers continue to demonstrate Idaho’s economic strength and resilience.

Total unemployment dropped 56.3% (-34,866) to 27,103 as out-of-work Idahoans returned to work, pushing the number of people working up 6.4% (+52,466) to 875,305.

Idaho’s nonfarm jobs increased 6.8% (+50,300) from June 2020, with every major sector showing increases. Leisure and hospitality – the most affected industry during the pandemic – was 17.5% above where it was one year ago and is 0.6% above its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

All five of Idaho’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) saw year-over-year nonfarm job gains greater than 5%. Pocatello jobs showed the greatest increase at 8.4%, followed by Idaho Falls (+7.9%), Coeur d’Alene (+7.3%), Boise (+6.2%) and Lewiston (+5.5%).

The state’s labor force – the only indicator that did not experience a sharp decline during the pandemic – also showed gains from June 2020, up 2% (+17,600) to 902,408.

National Comparisons

Nationally, June’s unemployment rate increased from 5.8% to 5.9%, with the number of unemployed up 169,844 to 9.5 million. The nation’s labor force increased by 151,000 to 161 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 850,000 to 145.8 million.

Idaho’s 2021 BLS release calendar is available at https://www.labor.idaho.gov/lmicalendar

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