The summer tourism season is upon us in Idaho, driving significant spending across the state. Employment within Leisure and Hospitality, and other supporting industries, are significant factors and central to tourist activity.
Tourism spending shows growth
Idaho’s tourism spending reveals progressive growth in the Leisure and Hospitality industry from 2015 to 2023, when Idaho Commerce first began collecting the data. This is shown in Figure 1. The majority of tourism spending was from dining at over $1.2 billion.
Other direct industry-supporting sectors like Retail and Transportation also shared this growth. Tourists in Idaho spent an estimated total of $4.3 billion in 2023, according to the latest report.1
The Arts, Entertainment and Recreation industry had an initial increase in consumer spending which overall has created an increase in economic activity. This has been the same in other related industries such as Accommodation and Food Service, Retail and Transportation.
This increase is shown in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation industry where every dollar spent generates an additional $0.70 in related economic activity. 2 Targeted tourist activity, like visiting a state park, attending a golf tournament or ski trip, further supports revenue to other establishments like shuttle companies, hotels, restauranteurs and shop owners.
Figure 1. Tourism spending in Idaho
Source: Idaho Commerce
Industry wages and the correlation to spending
The Accommodation and Food Service sector had the greatest increase in tourist spending from 2015 to 2023, however, the industry experienced the slowest wage growth among other tourism industries.3 This is shown in Figure 2.
Transportation and Retail also lagged in wages in relation to tourist spending. Conversely, Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, the largest sector within the Leisure and Hospitality industry, had the highest wage growth in relation to tourist spending.
One important thing to note is that higher tourist spending does not always translate to higher wages for workers in related sectors. One main reason is because of the part-time and seasonal nature of tourism jobs.
Figure 2. Relative industry wages to tourism spending, Idaho 2015 to 2023
Source: Idaho Department of Labor – Census of Employment and Wages, Idaho Commerce
Wage level change in Leisure and Hospitality supported industries is shown in Figure 3. Transportation and Retail industries experienced more rapid acceleration in wage growth compared with Arts, Entertainment and Recreation and Accommodation and Food Service.
Figure 3. Select industry average annual wages in Idaho
Source: Idaho Department of Labor – Census of Employment and Wages
Industry employment
Leisure and Hospitality growth is measured within a wide range of jobs in arts, amusement and recreation, as well as campgrounds, restaurants, casinos, bars and other food services. Significant 10-year job growth occurred in relevant industry subsectors, especially in Amusement, Gambling and Recreation Industries (which experienced a 69% growth rate), as well as Museums, Historical Sites and Similar Institutions (which experienced a 43% growth rate).4 This is shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. 2015 to 2025 job growth in select subsectors, Idaho
Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages – Lightcast occupations
However, since 2022, average employment growth in Idaho has largely leveled off in Leisure and Hospitality supported industries. This is shown in Figure 5. Many establishments have adapted by using technology and streamlined operations to serve more customers with fewer employees, allowing revenues to rise even without significant job growth.
Figure 5. Select industry employment in Idaho
Source: Idaho Department of Labor – Census of Employment and Wages
Final thoughts
Overall, the Leisure and Hospitality industry drives Idaho’s “experience economy,” shaping how visitors spend their time and money. While consumer spending in this sector has recently reached record highs — due to higher prices, longer stays and a greater demand for premium experiences — this increase hasn’t translated into significant job or wage growth. Instead, most establishments in the industry remain financially flexible, able to adjust hiring and payroll as needed during economic shifts.
Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2347
Main sources:
1. Idaho Commerce. “Tourism Economic Data and Research, January 2025.” Accessed April 2026. https://commerce.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Idaho-Travel-USA-2023-Report.pdf
2. Arts Idaho. “Arts and Economic Prosperity 6, 2023.” Accessed May 2026. aep6.americansforthearts.org/aep6-calculator?partner=idaho-commission-on-the-arts
3. Idaho Department of Labor. “Quarterly Census of Earnings and Wages, 2015 – 2025.” Idaho Labor Market Information. Private dataset accessed April 2026.
4. Conference Board-Lightcast. “Industry Snapshot, 2015-2025.” Private dataset accessed April 2026.
Other sources
Idaho Commerce. “Tourism Economic Data and Research, June 2016.” Accessed April 2026. https://commerce.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Idaho-2015-Visitor-Final-Report.pdf
Idaho Commerce. “Tourism Economic Data and Research, July 2018.” Accessed April 2026. https://commerce.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Idaho-State-2017-TUSA-Final-Report.pdf
Idaho Commerce. “Tourism Economic Data and Research, March 2021.” Accessed April 2026. https://commerce.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Idaho-and-Regions-2019-Travel-USA-Visitation-Report.pdf
Idaho Commerce. “Tourism Economic Data and Research, May 2022.” Accessed April 2026. https://commerce.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2021-Travel-USA-Idaho-Regions_Reduced.pdf
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY26 as part of a Workforce Information grant (41%) and state/nonfederal funds (59%) totaling $860,595.
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