Category Archives: Labor Market

Around Idaho: Economic activity, July 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of July 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 45 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 382 average weekly continuing claims during June 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 14% from the previous month and 20.2% from the 56 average weekly initial claims filed in June 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims increased 2.5% from May 2026 and decreased 21.7% from June 2025. Statewide continuing claims increased 1.9% from last month and decreased 7.8% from June 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Big Tree Construction is planning The Wilder – a new three-level mixed-use building in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The Wilder will comprise 3,000 square feet of commercial space on the main floor that will be leased to Ink and Easel Fine Art Gallery and one additional tenant. Source: Inland Northwest Business Watch
  • A open house event was held for the Hagadone Medical Clinic in Coeur d’Alene. Kootenai Health operates the clinic in partnership with the Hagadone Corporation and offers free health services for eligible Hagadone employees and their covered family members. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Lakeside Companies acquired The Highlands Golf Course in Post Falls. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Department of Labor names new economist for northern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

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

Lorren MorganLorren Morgan is the new Idaho Department of Labor regional labor economist for northern Idaho, covering Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties. He replaces the previous economist, Sam Wolkenhauer, who is the research analyst supervisor at the department.

Morgan earned a bachelor’s of science in biology with two minors in economics and chemistry from Eastern Washington University (EWU) in 2022.

He briefly attended the University of Washington School of Medicine before pivoting toward economics to complete a post‑baccalaureate bachelor’s of science in economics at EWU in 2026.

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Past 100 years of Idaho’s history inform current job trends

July 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States and the 136th anniversary of Idaho’s statehood. As the 43rd state admitted to the union in 1890, Idaho is a relatively young entrant, but its first few decades of statehood have proven to be pivotal cornerstones for the current labor market trends of the 2020s.

Idaho’s formation as an agricultural state

The federal passage of the 1894 Carey Act allowed arid western states like Idaho to reclaim up to one million acres of what was previously deemed as unusable desert federal land. After reclamation, states could then grant the productive land to settlers in up to 160-acre parcels.[1]

Most Carey Act projects were funded between 1905-1923. Idaho was considered one of the program’s primary beneficiaries as it far exceeded the initial one million acres. By 1920, approximately one-fourth of Idaho’s 2.5 million irrigated acres were a direct result of Carey Act projects.[2] Continue reading →

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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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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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.

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