Monthly Archives: March 2025

Idaho’s February unemployment rate drops to 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 28, 2025
Media Contact: William.Winkle@labor.idaho.gov or Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

– State first in nation for over-the-year nonfarm job growth at 2.7% –

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point between January and February, down to 3.7%.

February’s labor force increased by 433 people to 1,012,372 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.1 percentage point between January and February, down to 63.8%.

Total employment increased by 797 (0.1%) to 974,409 as unemployment decreased by 364 (0.9%) to 37,963. Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic activity, March 2025

Map of IdahoInformation 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

NORTHERN IDAHO

Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties

Regional news

Kootenai County

  • Kootenai Health and MultiCare have announced plans to develop a new 30-acre medical campus, called Prairie Medical Campus, on the Highway 41 corridor in Post Falls. Phase 1 will include a micro-hospital with an emergency department and imaging, along with a multi-story facility for ambulatory surgery, laboratory services and clinic offices. Development will begin in 2025 with a 24-to-36-month completion timetable for the first phase. Source: MultiCare Newsroom
  • The first phase of construction at the Millworx development has been completed, with over 200 residential units, including townhouses and multifamily residences, completed. In addition, a four-story mixed-use building has been completed with residential space available on the ground floors and residential units now available on upper levels. A 151-room hotel is still under construction and is expected to be completed by year-end. Source: Journal of Business

Continue reading →

Idaho receives benchmark adjustments for 2024 unemployment rates

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently provided benchmarking adjustments to Idaho’s 2024 monthly unemployment rates, resulting in higher rates than were initially reported for most of the year. December’s unemployment rate was the only exception, remaining at 3.8%.

The BLS conducts benchmarking for all states annually to incorporate data that was initially unavailable during regular monthly publications, such as new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and employment data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Continue reading →

Labor economists to discuss changes in Idaho’s rural demographics at webinar March 25

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 19, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Research Analyst Supervisor Craig Shaul and Labor Economists Jan Roeser and Seth Harrington will discuss changes over the past 20 years in the state’s rural demographics at a webinar Tuesday, March 25. The webinar takes place from 11 a.m. to noon MT over Zoom.

“Idaho has experienced impressive growth in the last 20 years,” Shaul said. “This webinar will take a detailed look at how the demographics of rural Idaho have changed during this time.”

Continue reading →

Idaho’s January unemployment rate remains at 3.8%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 17, 2025
Media Contact: will.winkle@labor.idaho.gov or craig.shaul@labor.idaho.gov

– State first in nation for over-the-year nonfarm job growth at 2.8% –

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 3.8%.

December 2024’s unemployment rate also remained the same at 3.8% after the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) annual benchmarking process. (More information about the benchmarking process can be found below.)

January’s labor force increased by 2,168 people (0.2%) to 1,011,937 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 63.9%. Continue reading →

Idaho’s most populated counties drive state’s growth

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2025
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s 44 counties grew by 1.5%, or over 30,497 new residents, between July 2023 and July 2024, according to recent U.S. Census population estimates. Higher population counties experienced more growth than rural areas, in line with a nationwide trend of metro areas seeing a resurgence after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, Idaho’s growth was more evenly dispersed across less populated rural counties and more populated urban counties.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought a rush of new residents to Idaho, particularly impacting rural areas of low population density that offered outdoor recreation,” said Labor Economist Jan Roeser. Continue reading →

LAUNCH workshop is available for graduating seniors, online, March 20

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is offering an online workshop, Thursday, March 20, to graduating high school senior students interested in applying to the LAUNCH career education grant program.

The workshop is from 5 to 7 p.m. MT and takes place via Microsoft Teams. Register at the department’s Eventbrite event page.

All students graduating in 2025 under the age of 21, including public, private, charter, homeschool and English as a second language students are welcome to attend.

Continue reading →

ICONIC program gave resident meaningful training to pursue a new career

Robert Kerns

Former ICONIC participant Robert Kerns

Boise resident Robert Kerns knew he wanted to segue his career to working in the construction industry. It was just a matter of how.

Soon, he discovered the ICONIC program offered by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to help him reach his career goals. This five-week unpaid free training gives Idahoans an opportunity to gain a certification in heavy equipment operation and gives participants the necessary skills employers are looking for when they fill positions.

Most graduates who participate in the program may go on to obtain their commercial driver’s license to operate heavy vehicles.

Continue reading →

Hiring event in Coeur d’Alene will feature over 40 open jobs in northern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

A hiring event will be held Wednesday, March 12, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave.

Employers planning to attend include Gozzer Ranch, Coeur d’ Alene Public Schools, Integrated Interventions, Kootenai Health, NAPA Auto Parts, the Idaho Division of Veteran Services, Aerotek and more.

Open positions will be available for job seekers including sales representatives, manufacturers, bus drivers, teachers, camp counselors, registered nurses, financial coaches, designers — among others.

Continue reading →

Port of Lewiston celebrates 50 years of economic development and job creation

In the spring of 1975, the Port of Lewiston opened for commerce when the first barge headed west down the Columbia-Snake River system.

Despite being approved by Nez Perce County voters in 1958, it was not until Lower Granite Dam was completed in 1975 that the Port of Lewiston became fully operational and was established as Idaho’s only seaport.

While the Lewiston metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — incorporating Nez Perce County, Idaho and Asotin County, Washington — is the only MSA in Idaho not adjacent to an interstate highway, it is the sole MSA in Idaho located along the U.S. Marine Highway system.

Over the last 50 years, the Port of Lewiston has had a significant impact in making the employment of north central Idaho both economically resilient as well as very distinctive compared with Idaho’s other labor regions. Continue reading →