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 August unemployment rate remains at 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 18, 2026
Media Contact: John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between July and August, staying at 3.6%.

August’s labor force decreased by 486 people to 998,378 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 July and August to 61.5%.

Total employment decreased by 410 to 962,214 and unemployment decreased by 76 (-0.2%) to 36,164. Continue reading →

Idaho’s population growth of children has created higher demand for education occupations

With students around Idaho returning to school, thousands of workers in the education sector are also returning to work. This includes not only teachers, but also non-teaching staff, including bus drivers, guidance counselors and administrators. In recent years student enrollment has increased in Idaho public primary schools, driving higher demand for these occupations.

Since 2020, Idaho’s rapid population growth has brought more than 23,000 additional children ages five to 17 into the school environment. This influx has increased demand on Idaho’s kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) education system. Total employment in elementary and secondary schools increased by 6.7% during this period to accommodate the growing student population. This new demand has affected employment trends for different occupations in a variety of ways.

School administrators, guidance counselors and bus drivers are three occupations in the K-12 sector which all had employment shifts in different ways due to the increase of students. School administration and guidance counselor occupations experienced elevated employment after 2020, while school bus driver employment decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue reading →

Network with various employers at Treasure Valley hiring event

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 10, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the State of Idaho Chinden Campus in Boise. The address is 11351 W. Chinden Blvd.

The event is from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the conference room of Building 6.

A variety of employers will be in attendance including Boise Mobile Equipment, Boise State University, City of Boise, Durham School Services, Fred Meyer, Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Idaho Power, Mattress Firm, West Ada School District and others.

Open positions available include electrical technicians, automotive painters, project cost estimators, electrical design engineers, building facility technicians, administrative assistants, business operations managers, sales representatives, airport operations specialists, business analysts and many more.

Continue reading →

Discover a new career at hiring event in Coeur d’Alene

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 9, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The address is 702 E. Front Ave.

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

Employers planning to attend include Hilton Grand Vacations, The Home Depot, Idaho Division of Veterans Services in Post Falls, North Idaho College, Paul Mitchell The School, Post Falls School District and more.

Continue reading →

Idaho’s domestic electricity generation supports high-paying jobs

As technology advances, the demand for energy continues to grow — especially with data centers and semiconductor fabrication facilities continuing to be built across the country. For Idaho, this is no different. Over the past two decades, Idaho has met its growing energy demand by expanding domestic generation and diversifying its power sources, resulting in an increase in high paying job opportunities.

Domestic vs. imported energy

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy equal to 1,000 watts of electricity consumed over the course of one hour. When scaled up by a factor of 1,000, a kWh becomes a megawatt-hour (MWh).

In 2025, the average Idaho household consumed 11.2 MWh of electricity, compared with the national average of 10.5 MWh. Idaho’s above-average consumption can be explained by its cold winters and hot summers increasing demand for both heating and air conditioning. Continue reading →

Labor economist to present webinar about Idaho’s latest long-term employment projections

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 1, 2026
Media Contact: Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Seth Harrington will be discussing the state’s 10-year employment (2024-2034) and how it is substantially outpacing the nation at a webinar, Tuesday, Sept. 8.

While the U.S’s workforce is projected to grow 3.1% over the next 10 years, Idaho’s is projected to grow over 13%. This webinar will compare and contrast key industries in the state and nation, highlighting current and the future drivers of economic growth for the state.

Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic activity, August 2026

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

  • Averill Hospitality has revised its plans for a resort hotel at the current site of the Best Western Edgewater Resort. The company now intends to renovate the existing structure and construct a new five‑story south wing that will include 27 condominiums. The reopened hotel at 56 Bridge St. will feature a lobby bar, coffee venue, retail space, outdoor dining areas, a pool and spa, lawn and terrace space for events and a new restaurant. Source: Sandpoint Reader
  • Hayden-based Viking Construction Inc. has started installing the infrastructure for a 52-acre development in Rathdrum. The development will consist of 164 single-family homes, 192 apartments in eight three-story buildings and several commercial buildings. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • The Post Falls City Council approved the construction of 17 cottage homes. In addition to the homes, the developers plan to build extra parking, a recreational space and an outlet road for the new development area. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Idaho Economic Advisory Council recently recommended Shoshone County (Kellogg, Smelterville and Wardner) for consideration under the federal Opportunity Zone designation. Opportunity Zones are federally designated census tracts created to encourage investment in economically distressed communities. Source: Shoshone News-Press

Continue reading →

Idaho’s July unemployment rate decreases to 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 21, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

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

July’s labor force decreased by 1,523 (-0.2%) people to 998,870 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 June and July to 61.6%.

Total employment decreased by 1,007 (-0.1%) to 962,626 and unemployment decreased by 516 (-1.4%) to 36,244. Continue reading →

Unemployment insurance workshop happening Aug. 27 for employers

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 19, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho employers are invited to learn about unemployment insurance (UI) Thursday, Aug. 27, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The workshop will take place at the Idaho Department of Labor’s Caldwell office, 4515 Thomas Jefferson St.

UI Supervisor Vicki Raass will discuss in detail the different employee separations (laid off, discharged or quit), separation documentation, investigating unemployment claims, determining claim outcomes, chargeability and liability, claimant eligibility, employer attachment and using E-services.

Continue reading →

Unemployment insurance (UI) claimants must thoroughly document work search actions

NEWS RELEASE

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

The Idaho Department of Labor has identified an increase in UI claimants being denied benefits as a result of insufficient work search documentation.

Claimants must prove they are actively searching for work by completing five work search actions a week. Details and contact information for the action are then submitted by the claimant in their weekly certification. If the information provided cannot be verified by the department, benefits may be denied and overpayments may be established. Continue reading →