Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of March and includes professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.
Northern Idaho
North central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South central Idaho
Southeastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho
Figure 1.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 27, 2024
Media Contact: Windy.Hahn@labor.idaho.gov
Retail, manufacturing, construction, health care and transportation are the top five industries looking for workers in eastern Idaho, according to Labor Economist Ryan Whitesides.
These industries and more will be represented at an Idaho Department of Labor hiring event, Wednesday, April 3.
Job seekers are encouraged to attend, bring an updated resume and dress to impress. The event will be held at the department’s Idaho Falls office, 1515 E. Lincoln Road, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 27, 2024
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov
While Idaho’s population continues to grow, its momentum has slowed in recent years based on U.S. Census updates. From July 2022 to July 2023 (the U.S. Census data period for this article), Idaho’s 44 counties saw a 1.3% population growth — a more modest growth rate compared to the 1.8% in July 2022 and 3.0% in July 2021.
Idaho added 25,730 new residents with almost half the counties growing at a faster rate than the state between July of 2022 and July of 2023. Only two counties lost population — Caribou (-9 residents) and Madison (-411 residents). Madison County is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho, where the ebb and flow of students creates volatility when estimating population.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 22, 2024
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov
or John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3% in February, unchanged from January.
The state’s labor force increased by 1,581 people (0.2%) to 969,471.
Idaho’s labor force participation rate — the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work — remained at 62.6% between January and February.
Total employment increased by 1,446 (0.2%) to 937,072 as unemployment increased by 135 (0.4%) to 32,399.
Idaho’s nonfarm jobs increased by 4,000 to 862,100 in February. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains included durable goods manufacturing (2.8%); natural resources (2.3%); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (1.8%); nondurable goods manufacturing (1.5%); wholesale trade (1.4%); private educational services (1.2%); federal government (0.7%); and arts, entertainment, and recreation (0.6%).
Employment
Idaho’s manufacturing industry has grown by 29% (or 16,190 workers) over the past 10 years from 2012-2022 while the national level has grown by 7% (or 854,184 workers). However, it’s important to note that industry growth since 2007 shows a different story with Idaho growing 10% while the national growth rate declined by 8% during that same period.
Idaho’s manufacturing industry has taken a stark detour from the national manufacturing employment trend. Idaho recovered from the Great Recession and experienced a small speed bump while observing the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas the national level strictly recovered from the pandemic shock and never fully recovered from the Great Recession.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 13, 2024
Media Contact: Tara.McKelvey@labor.idaho.gov
Approximately 30 employers will be at the Idaho Department of Labor’s Post Falls hiring event, Wednesday, March 20, looking to fill job openings. Job seekers are welcome to bring a resume from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to the department’s office located at 600 N. Thornton St.
Businesses planning to attend include the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, Hayden Area Regional Sewer, the National Guard, North Idaho Dental, Texas Roadhouse, Aerotek, Huntwood and many others.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 11, 2024
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov
or John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 3.3%.
December 2023’s unemployment rate also remained the same at 3.3% after the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual benchmarking process. (More information about the benchmarking process can be found below.)
January’s labor force increased by 546 people (0.1%) to 967,862.
Idaho’s labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased from December’s 62.7% to 62.6% in January.
Total employment negligibly increased by 362 (0.0%) to 935,588 as unemployment increased by 184 (0.6%) to 32,274.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2024
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov
The Idaho Department of Labor’s long-term industry and employment projection estimates will be released in March.
As a preview of the official release, labor economist Sam Wolkenhauer will provide an overview of these projections in a free webinar taking place Tuesday, March 12, from 11 a.m. to noon MST.
Rural Idaho means different things to different people. Based on my own Idaho in-migration, out-migration and rural living paradigms, my family and I moved to the state three separate times and have lived the rural Idaho experience.
Why did we choose to move to rural Idaho? Simply put, it was time for a change of pace and subjectively, a better environment to raise kids. In all three instances an opportunity cost weighed into the decision.
Rural Idaho is framed as referring to people, demographics, population, the land itself — private and public — or the rural economy. The preeminent rural definition we use at the Idaho Department of Labor classifies the state’s rural counties in three categories: rural center, open rural and commuting rural.
Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of February and includes professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.
Northern Idaho
North central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho
Region
Labor demand in northern Idaho rose last month, with the number of open jobs increasing by nearly 40%. In total, there were 1,799 job postings in January 2024, according to data from the Conference Board, of which 1,474 were posted in Kootenai County. Registered nurses were the most in-demand occupation, followed by retail salespersons.