Idaho was one of the fastest growing states over the past decade, cresting 2 million residents in 2024. While the state’s average age increased from 35.9 in 2014 to 37.8 in 2024, this was still relatively younger than the national average of 39.1.¹

From 2014-2024, the population of Idahoans age 16+ increased by 27.5% — more than triple the national rate of 8.3%. Similarly, the state’s labor force increased by 30.5%, as compared with the 7.8% increase nationwide.²

The changing demographics of Idaho’s general population have impacted its labor force and labor force-eligible population (defined as those over the age of 16 who are not a full-time student, member of the military or incarcerated). The effects of in-migration, the displacement of older workers and an increased participation among women and youth can be seen in the age and gender breakdown of the data.

Labor force participation by age bracket
The largest gains for Idaho’s population in terms of both percentage and number occurred among the oldest age bracket — those 65 and older. This age bracket was already the most prominent in 2014 with 18% of the labor force-eligible population and grew even further to 21.5% by 2024.²

A majority (85%) of the increase in the 65+ age bracket was from those who did not end up participating in the labor force. This is not unusual as people tend to exit the labor force around this age. However, this age bracket still saw a 42.9% increase in labor force members and increased its share by half a percentage point.²

On the younger side of the population, the 16-24 age bracket experienced the highest increase to labor force participation from 2014-2024, despite its population growth trailing behind the state’s as a whole (Figure 1).² 

This contradiction could be because young Idahoans in 2024 were more likely to forego higher education and go straight into the workforce. The state’s “go-on” rate — the percentage of new high school graduates enrolling in college — was 43.6% in 2024, down from the over 50% rate seen as recently as 2017.3 

Figure 1. Percentage growth in population and labor force, 2014-2024Source: Current Population Survey

Population by age bracket
When looking strictly at population, the 55-64 age range was the least prominent group in both 2014 and 2024.² This indicates a large number of the gains seen in the 65+ population came from in-migration, with the preceding age bracket being unable to provide as many Idahoans aging up into the next bracket.

Growth within the 25-34 and 35-44 age brackets also benefitted from in-migration as they were the only others to grow their population shares. The 25-34 age bracket in particular ascended from the fourth most prevalent bracket in 2014 to the second most prevalent in 2024 (Figure 2).²

Figure 2. Population concentration by age bracketSource: Current Population Survey

The relative decline in concentration of young working age Idahoans (ages 16-24) is surprising, considering the increase of about 7,000 in annual births in the state between 1998 (the last year someone could be born to be counted in this bracket in 2014) and 2008 (the last year to be counted in the 2024 numbers). This further shows the impact of in-migration on the age breakdown of the state’s growing population.⁴

Replacing older workers
In 2014, the 45-54 age bracket held the largest share of employment in the state but has since been surpassed by the 25-34 and 35-44 age brackets.² This means more of the employment growth over the observed decade has gone to younger age brackets, which helps ensure the aging members of the labor force are being effectively replaced.

This influx of younger competition in the labor market has made finding jobs more difficult for the 55-64 age bracket, which experienced a 51.8% increase in the number of unemployed members from 2014-2024 (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Percent changes to employment and unemployment, 2014-2024Source: Current Population Survey

Breakdown by gender
The population of women was slightly higher than that of men in 2024. However, between 2014-2024, men had a higher population growth rate of 29% compared with women’s 26%, as seen in Figure 4. Despite this, the participation rate of women in the labor force grew faster than the rate of men — increasing by 2.2 and 0.6 percentage points, respectively.²

Figure 4. Population and labor force growth among genders, 2014-2024Source: Current Population Survey

Non-participants in the labor force grew primarily in the 65+ age bracket for both men and women. For the 25-34 age bracket, there was a divergence where men saw a 63.6% increase in non-participants while women saw a 4.4% decrease. This follows a national trend in the post-pandemic labor market where non-college educated men over the age of 25 have been dropping out of the labor force due to discouragement in current job prospects.²

From 2014-2024, the number of unemployed women in Idaho increased by 6.2% while men decreased by 0.7%. Specifically, women ages 55-64 saw the greatest movement in unemployment in terms of both percentage and number, increasing by 102.9% or 1,167. This is due to factors like limited access to child care forcing women to be more selective when looking for jobs, difficulty finding work when reentering the labor force (especially for the 55-64 age bracket) and more women participating in the labor force in general (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Employment and unemployment change by gender, 2014-2024

Source: Current Population Survey

Conclusion
Idaho’s population is aging, but it is still a relatively young state compared with the country as a whole. There is a healthy influx of younger workers to take the place of older generations as they exit the labor force. However, the current trend of young men without college degrees disengaging from the labor force could impact future statistics.

William.Winkle@labor.idaho.gov, principal research analyst
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2378

Footnotes

1. “Explore Census Data,” U.S. Census Bureau, accessed October 2025, https://data.census.gov/.

2. “Current Population Survey,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed October 2025, internal database.

3. Kevin Richert, “Analysis: Launch and go-on rates, and what the new numbers have to say,” Idaho Education News, published March 20, 2025, https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/analysis-launch-and-go-on-rates-and-what-the-new-numbers-have-to-say/.

4. “Vital Statistics,” Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, accessed October 2025, https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/vital-records-and-health-statistics/.

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This Idaho Department of Labor project is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY26 as part of a BLS cooperative agreement totaling $714,542.