NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2023
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.6% in March, unchanged from February’s rate.

March’s labor force – workers who are employed or unemployed but looking for work – increased by 1,905 people (0.2%) to 960,017.

Idaho’s labor force participation was unchanged between February and March, remaining at 62.6%.

Total employment increased by 2,364 (0.3%) to 935,335 as unemployment decreased by 459 (-1.8%) to 24,682.

Idaho’s nonfarm jobs increased by 1,400 to 846,600 in March. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains include natural resources (2.3%); transportation, warehousing and utilities (2.3%); federal government (2.2%); information (2.1%); private educational services (1.2%); accommodation and food services (0.5%); durable goods manufacturing (0.5%); and professional and business services (0.5%).

Industries with the greatest job declines in March were wholesale trade (-1.1%), other services (-0.7%), construction (-0.6%) and retail trade (-0.5%).

Three of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) saw over-the-month nonfarm job increases in February. Twin Falls saw the largest increase at 1%, followed by Lewiston (0.7%) and Boise (0.2%). Pocatello experienced the greatest decrease in nonfarm jobs (-0.5%), followed by Coeur d’Alene (-0.4%). Idaho Falls experienced no discernable change.

Year over Year

Idaho’s unemployment rate for March was one-tenth of a percentage point higher than the 2.5% for March 2022. The labor force was up 1.5%, an increase of 14,178 people.

The number of unemployed Idahoans increased 4% (950), while the number of employed rose 1.4% (13,228).

Idaho’s total nonfarm jobs increased by 3% (24,500). Every major industry sector showed over-the-year job gains except for transportation, warehousing and utilities (-5.4%); nondurable goods manufacturing (-2.9%); and retail trade (-0.2%).

All of Idaho’s MSAs saw year-over-year nonfarm job gains. Pocatello saw the greatest increase at 5.2%, followed by Boise (3.4%), Coeur d’Alene (2.5%,) Idaho Falls (2.4%), Twin Falls (1.6%) and Lewiston (1%).

National Comparisons

Nationally, unemployment decreased from 3.6% in February to 3.5% in March. The number of unemployed decreased by 149,451 to 5.8 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 236,000 (0.2%) to 155.6 million, which is above pre-pandemic levels.

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Upcoming Idaho Release Schedule:

May 19, 2023:  Statewide and substate labor force and nonfarm jobs data for April 2023
June 23, 2023:  Statewide and substate labor force and nonfarm jobs data for May 2023

This project is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an Employment and Training Administration award totaling $695,785.