Monthly Archives: June 2025

Around Idaho: Economic activity, June 2025

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

  • Coeur d’Alene Ironman was held on Sunday, June 22. The 70.3-mile triathlon, which has become a fixture summer event in Coeur d’Alene, drew more than 1,000 athletes to northern Idaho this year. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A new retail center in Coeur d’Alene is nearing completion and has begun announcing tenants. A Five Guys restaurant and EyeMart Express will anchor the new Heritage Square on U.S. 95 in northern Coeur d’Alene. The property has additional retail spaces available, with Five Guys set to open in July. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Post Falls City Council approved a construction improvement agreement for a 148-lot subdivision in northern Post Falls. The project, dubbed Crown Reserve, will be located north of the Crown Pointe Subdivision and will require significant infrastructure improvements. No timeline has been published for construction. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Idaho Department of Labor works to prevent, stop unemployment insurance fraud

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

The conviction of Woody Roberts, 38, of Jerome, for two counts of Misrepresentation to Obtain Unemployment Insurance Benefits, began as an investigation by Idaho Department of Labor compliance staff as part of the Department’s efforts to stop unemployment insurance fraud.

“Preventing unemployment insurance fraud helps us keep unemployment insurance taxes low while still providing benefits to eligible individuals,” said Idaho Department of Labor Director Jani Revier.

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Idaho’s unemployment rate drops to 3.6% in May

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 20, 2025
Media Contact: John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased between April and May, from 3.7% to 3.6%.

May’s labor force decreased by 875 people (-0.1%) to 1,011,244 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 April and May, down to 63.5%.

Total employment decreased by 398 to 974,419 as unemployment decreased by 477 (-1.3%) to 36,825.

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Speak with employers in eastern Idaho at hiring event, June 25

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

A hiring event will be held Wednesday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Idaho Department of Labor office at 1515 E. Lincoln Road in Idaho Falls.

Employers planning to attend include American Fabrication, Idaho Army National Guard, City of Blackfoot, Frosty Gater, Grease Monkey, Roof Rescue, TRIO – Idaho State University, HK Contractors and others.

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Idaho’s housing market reflects construction trends

The housing market has been a hot topic in recent years as high mortgage rates and rising prices have created affordability challenges across the state. To address these challenges, multi-family housing unit permits have had an increasing share of overall housing permits in Idaho.

Additionally, the labor force side of the equation is growing strong, as construction employment is the second largest growing industry in the state.

Affordability challenges

Rising unaffordability is a nationwide challenge, both rent and house owner’s equivalent of rent have shown increases in almost identical ways. Prices stagnated during 2008-2011 as the housing crisis turned the housing market upside down.

Outside of the housing crisis, housing costs have continued to increase even faster since 2021, as inflation and mortgage rates began to rise. The prices have been shrinking the number of homes on the market and rising costs of inputs (lumber, concrete, steel, etc.) for new homes.

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Labor economists to discuss rural Idaho’s economy at webinar June 17

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economists Lisa Grigg, Brandon Duong and Sam Wolkenhauer will discuss rural Idaho’s economy at a webinar Tuesday, June 17. The webinar takes place from 11 a.m. to noon MT over Zoom.

“This webinar is a unique opportunity to discuss the economic successes and challenges of rural Idaho,” Wolkenhauer said.

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Connect with various employers at Boise hiring event

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 5, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

A hiring event will be held Thursday, June 12, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the State of Idaho Chinden Campus, 11351 W. Chinden Blvd.

Job seekers are expected to arrive at Building 6 in the conference room.

Employers planning to attend include Ada County Human Resources, Bogus Basin, Boise School District, City of Boise, Idaho Power, the Idaho Transportation Department, Knife River, KeyBank, Omega Tech Labs, American Airlines and many more.

Featured positions at the event include accounts payable positions, operations specialists, eligibility clerks, loan processing associates, human resource and project coordinators, quality assurance specialists, information technology software engineers, staff engineers, financial specialists, engineer managers, assemblers, office administration positions and others.

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Idaho’s rural recreational counties lead state for number of employers per resident

Idaho is a large state with significant land area in mountain ranges, forests, wilderness and cropland. Although beautiful and geologically diverse, the state’s rugged landscape results in low overall population density compared to many U.S. states.

Averaging 24 residents per square mile, the Gem State has a population density that is nearly one-fourth that of the U.S. (96 people per square mile) and holds the No. 6 lowest density per square mile compared to all other states (between No. 5 being New Mexico with 18 people per square mile and No. 7 being Nebraska with 26 people per square mile).

The population density of Idaho’s nine urban counties (Ada, Bannock, Bonneville, Canyon, Kootenai, Latah, Madison, Nez Perce and Twin Falls) combined, averages 143 residents per square mile. The remaining 35 rural counties average significantly lower population density with eight residents per square mile.

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