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.

Learn about the past 100 years of Idaho employment at Labor webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 7, 2026
Media Contact: Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Lisa Grigg will compare and contrast how economic factors in the 1920s and 2020s have structurally shaped Idaho employment in a webinar, Tuesday, July 14.

“Both of these eras – 100 years apart – highlight how Idaho’s labor market has adapted to significant technological shifts and external labor shocks,” Grigg said. “Many decisions in the 1920s surrounding the state’s natural resources and occupational roles laid important cornerstones for the labor market of today.”

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Department of Labor names new economist for southwestern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov

Knox Freedman headshotKnox Freedman is the new Idaho Department of Labor regional labor economist for southwestern Idaho, covering Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties. He replaces the previous economist, Jan Roeser.

Freedman earned two bachelor’s of business administration degrees in economics and finance from Idaho State University in 2022. After being in the workforce, he decided to return to school and earned a master’s degree in economics at Boise State University (BSU) in 2025.

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Economic snapshot: Tourism industry adapts to economic shifts in Idaho

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.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, June 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of June 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 52 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 474 average weekly continuing claims during May 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 22% from the previous month and 9% from the 57 average weekly initial claims filed in May 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in the northern region during May decreased 38% from April 2026 and 14% from the 550 average weekly claims in May 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims decreased 2% from April 2026 and 25% from May 2025. Statewide continuing claims also decreased 19% from last month and 8% from May 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Encompass Health plans to build a 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Post Falls. Construction is planned to be completed in 2028 and will be the second location in Idaho — along with Boise. Source: Encompass Health
  • Jacklin Northwest is developing Jacklin Ranch Retail Center in Post Falls with 12 leasable spaces covering 18,000 square feet. The groundbreaking is planned for fall 2026 with completion in 2027. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining grossed over $300 million in proceeds after closing an initial public offering of 23 million shares of common stock. The Sunshine Mine is expected to restart silver and antimony operations in late 2028 with plans for a 24-year mine life. Source: Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining

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Nampa Public Library and Idaho Department of Labor hosts Third Annual Hiring and Resource Fair

NEWS RELEASE

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

The Idaho Department of Labor is cohosting a hiring and resource fair with the Nampa Public Library on Thursday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event takes place at the Nampa Public Library located at 215 12th Ave. S.

Job seekers will have an opportunity to meet with many employers to discuss job openings including Autozone Auto Parts, City of Boise, City of Nampa, CS Beef Packers, Gem County, Idaho Air National Guard, Idaho Central Credit Union, Idaho Public Television, Lactalis American Group, Simplot and more.

The positions available range from excavation operators, skilled trade technicians, maintenance technicians, heavy equipment operators, certified nursing assistants, bus drivers, customer service specialists and others.

Community resources attending include Advocates Against Family Violence, Glocal Friend Partner, Icarus Wellness and Recovery, Nampa Family Personal Center, Valley Regional Transit and more.

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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.

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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.

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How Idaho’s income data is calculated

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 stays cautiously optimistic

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.

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