Monthly Archives: January 2025

Around Idaho: Economic activity, January 2025

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of January 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

NORTHERN IDAHO

Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties

Regional news

  • A joint Spokane-Coeur d’Alene aerospace tech hub has received $48 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce. A consortium made up of more than 50 public and private sector organizations in Spokane and northern Idaho, including labor and workforce organizations, local governments, educational institutions and manufacturers applied for a first round of federal funding for the tech hub. The organizations failed to make the initial list of 12 projects to be funded in the first round. However, the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene tech hub was among the six projects selected for funding in the second round. Source: Journal of Business
  • Despite a relatively snowless and warm winter at lower elevations, significant precipitation in northern Idaho is expected to end the region’s two-year drought. According to the Idaho Department of Water Resources, the mountain snow water equivalent was 135% of normal in the northern Panhandle. After two years of significant drought, the ongoing wet winter is expected to bring an end to drought conditions. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Idaho’s December unemployment rate increases to 3.8%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 24, 2025
Media Contact: William.Winkle@labor.idaho.gov or Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

– Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force over one million for first time –

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8% in December, up from 3.7% in November.

The state’s labor force increased by 4,108 people (0.4%) to 1,000,658 while the labor force participation rate — the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work — increased from 63.4% to 63.6% between November and December.

This is the first time Idaho’s seasonally adjusted labor force has had over one million participants in the state’s history. Continue reading →

Job fair in Coeur d’Alene will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 24, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

A job fair will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave.

Employers planning to attend include Ace Industrial Supply, Inland Chess Academy, Ivy Court, North Idaho College, Post Falls School District, North Idaho Dental Group, Travelers Insurance, Kootenai County, Gentle Genie Rug Care and more.

A variety of open positions range from caregivers, registered nurses, financial coaches, customer service associates and others.

Continue reading →

Labor economists will discuss the labor market outlook for 2025 in webinar, Jan. 28

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 22, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Research Analyst Supervisor Craig Shaul will lead a discussion about the state’s labor market outlook for 2025 in a free webinar, Tuesday, Jan. 28. Labor economists Jan Roeser and Ryan Whitesides will participate in the discussion.

The webinar topics include the state’s economic growth, inflation, population growth, labor market growth and more. These topics will be covered more in-depth in additional webinars during 2025. The team will also be discussing research projects that will be released this year.

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National Bagel Day: Idaho bakers’ wages and employment on the rise

Today, bagel lovers rise to the occasion to celebrate National Bagel Day. This annual celebration is only possible due to the tireless efforts of bakers (Standard Occupational Code of 51-3011).

In Idaho, the median wages and employment for bakers have been on a roll in recent years. In 2023, the median hourly wage for this job was $15.34 — an increase of 31.1% from $11.70 in 2018. Similarly, estimated employment was 1,330 in 2023 — up from 900 in 2018. Continue reading →

MLK – Idaho Human Rights Day celebration takes place at State Capitol, Jan. 20

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 15, 2025
Media Contact: Ben Earwicker, J.D., Ph.D., Benjamin.Earwicker@labor.idaho.gov, (208) 696-2448

Monday, Jan. 20, will mark the 38th year that Idaho has celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. – Idaho Human Rights Day, first commemoratively and later as a state holiday.

The public is invited to attend ceremonies in the State Capitol’s second-floor rotunda beginning at noon and concluding at 1 p.m.

Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke will join Mamie Oliver, Ph.D, for the celebration. Oliver is an ordained minister, educator, psychotherapist and author. She served as a tenured professor of social work and as the internship coordinator at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. Continue reading →