NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 20, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between January and February, staying at 3.7%.
February’s labor force decreased by 1,683 (-0.2%) people to 1,008,136 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.1 percentage point between January and February, down to 62.7%.
Total employment decreased by 1,539 (-0.2%) to 971,186 and unemployment decreased by 144 (-0.4%) to 36,950.
Idaho’s nonfarm jobs had a net decrease of 2,800 (-0.3%) for a total of 875,900 in February. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month losses included Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services (-2.3%); Art, Entertainment and Recreation (-2.1%); Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (-1.5%); Other Services (-1.3%); Information (-1.1%); Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (-1.1%); Durable Goods Manufacturing (-0.7%); Federal Government (-0.7%); Accommodation and Food Services (-0.6%); State Government (-0.6%) and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (-0.6%).
Industries that experienced job increases in February included Wholesale Trade (1.4%), Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (0.9%), Healthcare and Social Services (0.2%) and Local Government (0.2%).
Three of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job losses in February. Idaho Falls saw the largest decrease at 0.5%, while Boise and Twin Falls both experienced decreases of 0.2%. Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston and Pocatello experienced no change.
Year over Year
Idaho’s 3.7% unemployment rate for February 2026 was the same as in 2025. The labor force grew 0.2% (2,139), as the number of employed Idahoans increased by 1,969 (0.2%). The number of unemployed Idahoans increased by 170 (0.5%).
Total nonfarm jobs increased by 0.5% (4,600). Most major industry sectors gained jobs except Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-10.8%); Federal Government (-6.9%); Information (-3.3%); Wholesale Trade (-2.7%); Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (-2.2%) State Government (-1.9%); Accommodation and Food Services (-0.8%) and Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services (-0.6%).
Three of Idaho’s MSAs had year-over-year nonfarm job gains in February. Twin Falls had the greatest increase at 1.0%, followed by Coeur d’Alene (0.4%) and Boise (0.3%). Pocatello experienced a decrease of 2.4%, while Idaho Falls and Lewiston saw decreases of 0.7% and 0.3%, respectively.
National Comparisons
Nationally, the unemployment rate increased between January and February, up from 4.3% to 4.4%. The number of unemployed increased by 203,000 (2.7%) to 7.6 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 133,000 (-0.1%) to 158.5 million.
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* Editors / News Directors – please note:
March and April data will have nonstandard release dates due to the annual Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarking process. Benchmarking includes revisions to state labor force estimates based on new inputs and population data. Nonfarm jobs are benchmarked using reported employer data.
Upcoming Idaho release schedule:
May 4, 2026 – Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for March 2026
May 22, 2026 – Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for April 2026
Find more labor market information at lmi.idaho.gov
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