Author Archives: Idaho Department of Labor

About Idaho Department of Labor

Our vision is to be Idaho’s first choice for employment services. We connect job seekers with Idaho employers, deliver employment services to Idaho businesses and support people during career and life transitions.

Idaho’s May unemployment rate increases to 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

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

May’s labor force decreased by 1,203 (-0.1%) people to 1,002,324 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between April and May, down to 62.0%.

Total employment decreased by 1,349 (-0.1%) to 965,666 and unemployment increased by 146 (0.4%) to 36,658. Continue reading →

Around 25 employers will attend hiring event in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 17, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Thursday, June 25, at the State of Idaho Chinden Campus in Boise. The address is 11351 W. Chinden Blvd.

The event is from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the conference room of Building 6.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including the Ada County Highway District, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, BME Fire Trucks, Boise State University, City of Boise, Idaho Transportation Department, St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, Victory EMS & Medical Transportation and others.

Continue reading →

Labor adds new mobile location in south central Idaho starting June 29

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 16, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Starting Monday, June 29, a new Idaho Department of Labor mobile location in Burley will open in south central Idaho. The location will be at the Burley Public Library — making 22 mobile locations available across Idaho.

The expansion will provide more options for residents to use Labor’s services in the south central region, such as helping with writing resumes, applying for jobs, prepping for interviews and filing for unemployment insurance benefits. Additionally, job training and other community resources are available.

Services for businesses are also available. This includes helping businesses with listing jobs, recruiting employees, organizing hiring events and providing access to job training programs.

Continue reading →

Methods of calculating Idaho’s wage and income data

Income is a foundational metric for assessing the economic health of Idaho’s households and workers across time, making geographic comparisons and directly comparing household income flows to expenses. However, income data can often be confusing, because it is provided by various official agencies using different methods.

Defining key terms

Important data related to income is published by the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Broadly speaking, the data from these three agencies varies by source, estimation basis and their definition of income (Figure 1). Continue reading →

Idaho’s labor market outlook for recent college graduates and young workers

The transition from college to career has always been a pivotal life moment, but in the current labor market, that transition is becoming more of a challenge, as structural shifts and slowdowns in white-collar industries may affect early career pathways.

While both the U.S. and Idaho labor markets have cooled from the post-pandemic boom of 2022, the national labor market has slowed substantially, especially compared with Idaho’s labor market. Idaho’s percentage growth in average hourly wages and nonfarm employment almost doubled the nation from 2022 to 2025.

Idaho’s labor market indicators show the state is still experiencing growth, while the national indicators show declining demand for labor and lower wage gains. As a result, Idaho’s labor market is better equipped to handle these headwinds than the more anemic national economy.

Continue reading →

Hiring event in Coeur d’Alene showcases a variety of positions

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, June 10, at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The address is 702 E. Front Ave.

The event is from noon to 3 p.m.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including Coeur d’Alene Public Schools, Environmental Control, Kootenai County, North Idaho Dental Personnel, North Idaho College – Workforce Training, The Post Falls Veterans Home, Republic Services and more.

Open positions available include caregivers, mentors, deputy sheriffs, park rangers, therapists, nursing assistants, Commercial Driver’s License drivers and others.

Continue reading →

Learn about the job outlook for recent graduates at Labor webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2026
Media Contact: Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Seth Harrington will be talking about the factors that have brought the highest unemployment rate among young college graduates over the past decade (excluding the pandemic) during a webinar Tuesday, June 9.

Several factors will be discussed in the context of these hiring challenges, including whether Artificial Intelligence is playing a major role in the labor market for new graduates. Trends will also be shown from a nationwide perspective.

Continue reading →

Meet employers and apply for various jobs at Idaho Falls hiring event

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 3, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, June 10, at the department’s Idaho Falls office. The address is 1515 E. Lincoln Road.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including Cives Steel Company, Idaho Central Credit Union, Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, Idaho National Laboratory, Lamb Weston, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Teton Stage Lines and more.

Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic activity, May 2026

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

  • The northern region reported 67 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 761 average weekly continuing claims during April 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 12% from the previous month and 6% from the 71 average weekly initial claims filed in April 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in the region decreased 39% from March 2026 and 22% from the 978 average weekly claims in April 2025. Weekly volume for statewide initial claims decreased 15% from March 2026 and continuing claims also decreased 31% from April 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • PNGC Power and Kindle Energy have agreed to jointly construct a combined-cycle natural gas power plant in Rathdrum. The construction and design period is estimated to take approximately six years to complete. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Ponderay Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special use permit request by Avista Corporation for development of a six-acre substation on a 22-acre parcel on Bronx Road. The initial construction period is estimated to take 16 months. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality awarded over $40 million to the City of Sandpoint for wastewater infrastructure upgrades along with drinking water system improvements. Source: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
  • Safariland LLC acquired Alien Gear Holsters for $10.3 million as part of a court-approved bankruptcy auction distributing the assets of Tedder Industries LLC. Court records indicate Alien Gear Holsters employs 108 workers with operations in a 70,000 square foot facility in Post Falls. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

Continue reading →

Idaho’s April unemployment rate remains at 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate did not change between March and April, remaining at 3.6%.

April’s labor force decreased by 2,350 (-0.2%) people to 1,003,496 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between March and April, down to 62.2%.

Total employment decreased by 2,290 (-0.2%) to 966,979 and unemployment decreased by 60 (-0.2%) to 36,517. Continue reading →