NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 18, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between February and March, remaining at 3.7%.
March’s labor force decreased by 667 (-0.1%) people to 1,011,659 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 February and March, down to 63.7%.
Total employment decreased by 339 to 974,031 as unemployment decreased by 328 (-0.9%) to 37,628.
Idaho’s nonfarm jobs had a net decrease of 700 jobs (-0.1%) for a total of 876,600 in March. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month losses included health care and social services (-2.3%), information (-1.1%), real estate and rental and leasing (-0.8%), private educational services (-0.6%) and wholesale trade (-0.6%).
Industries that experienced job gains in March included other services (2%); durable goods manufacturing (1.1%); management of companies and enterprises (1.1%); federal government (0.7%); professional scientific and technical services (0.7%); arts, entertainment and recreation (0.6%); state government (0.6%) and transportation, warehousing and utilities (0.6%).
Three of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job increases in March. Twin Falls saw the largest increase of 0.4%, followed by Coeur d’Alene (0.3%) and Idaho Falls (0.2%). Boise and Lewiston experienced no change, while Pocatello had a decrease of -0.2%.
Year over Year
Idaho’s 3.7% unemployment rate for March 2025 was up from 3.5% the prior year. The labor force was up 1.7%, an increase of 17,081 people.
The number of unemployed Idahoans increased 7.9% (2,755) while total employed was 1.5% (14,326) higher over the same period.
Total nonfarm jobs increased by 2.6% (22,000). Most major industry sectors gained jobs except administrative, support, and waste management services (-6.8%); information (-2.2%); wholesale trade (-1.1%); state government (-1%) and federal government (-0.7%).
All but one of Idaho’s MSAs saw year-over-year nonfarm job gains in March. Twin Falls had the greatest increase at 3.6%, followed by Coeur d’Alene (3.5%), Boise (3.1%), Idaho Falls (3.1%) and Pocatello (1.7%). Lewiston experienced the only decrease of -1.3%.
National Comparisons
Nationally, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage point between February and March, up to 4.2%. The number of unemployed increased by 31,000 (0.4%) to 7.1 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 228,000 (0.1%) to 159.4 million.
Upcoming Idaho Release Schedule:
May 16, 2025 – Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for April 2025
June 20, 2025 – Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for May 2025
More Idaho labor market information can be found at lmi.idaho.gov
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