Category Archives: Uncategorized

Federal government shutdown: Idaho unemployment insurance benefits

Unemployment insurance (UI) information pertaining to federal workers affected by the federal government shutdown:

Q: I am a federal worker who has been furloughed. Am I eligible for unemployment?

Yes. You are considered laid off due to lack of work and you need to meet personal and monetary eligibility. However, as a federal employee, you also need to be aware of a potential unintended consequence of applying for unemployment insurance benefits.

If the federal government compensates you or back pays you for the work you missed during the furlough (as it has historically), you will be required to disclose your payment information to the department and repay any UI benefits you collect during that time.

Before you apply, note that you will not receive your first UI payment for approximately three weeks after you file for benefits.

If you have questions about the claim process, please call the claim center at 208-332-8942 or talk to a navigator at your nearest local office.

Q: What if I am one of the federal workers who are required to continue to work full time without pay?

You would not be eligible for benefits if you are working full time, regardless of pay. Full time is normally defined as 40 hours per week.

Continue reading →

Idaho’s April unemployment rate remains at 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 16, 2025
Media Contact: John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between March and April, remaining at 3.7%.

April’s labor force increased by 494 people to 1,012,142 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.1 percentage point between March and April, down to 63.6%.

Total employment increased by 815 (0.1%) to 974,842 as unemployment decreased by 321 (-0.9%) to 37,300. Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic activity, February 2025

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

  • Avista Utilities, a keystone provider of electric and natural gas utilities in the panhandle, has filed a proposal with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission that would raise rates for Idaho customers. As currently proposed, electric rates in Idaho would increase by 14% in September followed by a 5% increase in 2026, while natural gas would increase 10% and 1% in 2025 and 2026 respectively. Avista stated the proposed increases are intended to cover ongoing investment in infrastructure. Source: Journal of Business

Kootenai County

  • North Idaho College (NIC) received sanctions relief from its accrediting agency, with the college’s multi-year show cause sanction reduced to a probationary status. The move to probation grants a one-year extension for NIC to return to compliance, and a letter from the accrediting body noted improvement on a majority of the college’s noncompliance issues. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Work on the multi-year project to replace the State Highway 411 and Interstate 90 interchange in Post Falls is proceeding to the next phase, after a productive winter helped by relatively mild weather. The Idaho Transportation Department will close the current westbound off-ramp with detours and temporary rerouting as they move on to the next phase. Construction has been underway since 2022 and the new interchange is slated for completion in 2026. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Continue reading →

Idaho Department of Labor Council mobile location moves to 110 Moser Ave.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 26, 2024
Media Contact: Daniel.Holmes@labor.idaho.gov

The department’s Council mobile location has moved to 110 Moser Ave.

The office is open to customers Thursdays, from 9:30 am. to 12:30 p.m. The location is shared with WICAP.

Customers will get the same assistance with resume writing, job applications, interview preparation, job training opportunities, community resources and filing for unemployment insurance benefits that was available at the previous location.

Continue reading →

Idaho employee turnover rates decline with economic diversification

*The charts in this article are sourced by the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Workforce Indicators*

Compared to three decades ago, employee turnover rates among Idaho private companies have declined in 11 of the 19 industry sectors, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Workforce Indicators. This decline is a sign of added job stability created by Idaho’s expanding industries.

Figure 1.

Idaho turnover rates by select industry

Generally, employee turnover rates are defined as the percentage of a company’s or industry’s annual workforce changes. The change occurs when there is a new hire or a separation, where the separation can be caused by three occurrences: a quit, a discharge or a death. Continue reading →

A symbiotic relationship: hunting, angling, wildlife recreation and Idaho’s labor market

Idaho is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with hunting and angling at the heart of a vibrant outdoor scene. Historically, it’s been an intrinsic and generational part of the livelihood to many who live in the state. In fact, the Idaho Department of Labor has found fishing, hunting and trapping employment has been growing at an annual clip of 6.6% since 2012 [1].

Based on the department’s occupational projections for 2022 through 2032, employment for fishing, hunting and trapping is projected to expand by 22.1% as one of the fastest growing occupational categories, by percentage, in Idaho [1]. Outdoor enthusiasts and industry workers alike have a stake in the industry and are dependent on one another for its success.

Continue reading →

Unemployment insurance weekly requirements to increase July 7

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2024
Media Contact: Josh.McKenna@labor.idaho.gov

Starting July 7, unemployment insurance claimants in Idaho will need to complete and report five work search actions each week to receive benefits. Submitting a resume or job application to an employer or attending a job fair or workshop are examples of acceptable work search actions. 

The Idaho Department of Labor offers help from navigators — unemployment insurance experts at local offices across the state — who can help claimants report their weekly actions and navigate the online claimant portal.

Workforce consultants are also available at local offices to help people with their job search, from preparing a resume to finding and applying for a job. Meeting with a workforce consultant can also be counted as a valid work search action.

Continue reading →

Idaho sets record lows in claim duration and unemployment rates

Idaho’s 9.3-week average duration of unemployment claims during 2022-2023 was the lowest in the state’s history and the second lowest in the nation. By comparison, the U.S. average was 15 weeks. Similarly, the state’s 2.7% average unemployment rate for 2022 was the lowest since records began in 1976, eclipsing the previous low of 2.9% in the historically tight labor market of 2018 and 2019.

Low unemployment rates are not a new thing for Idaho. The state’s unemployment rate has been below 3% for three of the last six calendar years (between 2018-2023). Idaho has not recorded an annual unemployment rate of over 4% since 2014 (excluding the immediate post-pandemic period years of 2020-2021). The U.S. has seen rates over 4% as recently as 2017.

Continue reading →

Idaho’s startup growth decreases slightly in 2023 while business applications rise

Idaho generally outpaces the nation in its share of startups relative to its labor force. In 2022, the state had a peak of 11 new private establishments for every 1,000 Idahoans in the labor force. In comparison, the U.S. had roughly seven new private establishments for every 1,000 civilians in the labor force. Despite Idaho’s momentum, startup growth tapered off slightly in 2023 at 9.5 per 1,000, which falls closer to the U.S. ratio of six per 1,000.

Looking at new startups in Idaho and the U.S. that have operated for less than a year provides a glimpse of economic health both in new industry establishments and employment. Between 1994 and 2023, Idaho’s annual number of new private establishments grew from 3,249 to 9,215. This was a 183.6% increase, or 6.3% on an annual basis, despite the recent drop in 2023. By comparison, the number of new establishments nationwide grew 85.1%, or 2.9% on an annual basis, shown in Figure 1.

Continue reading →

Idaho county population growth cools with recent U.S. Census updates

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2024
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov

While Idaho’s population continues to grow, its momentum has slowed in recent years based on U.S. Census updates. From July 2022 to July 2023 (the U.S. Census data period for this article), Idaho’s 44 counties saw a 1.3% population growth — a more modest growth rate compared to the 1.8% in July 2022 and 3.0% in July 2021.

Idaho added 25,730 new residents with almost half the counties growing at a faster rate than the state between July of 2022 and July of 2023. Only two counties lost population — Caribou (-9 residents) and Madison (-411 residents). Madison County is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho, where the ebb and flow of students creates volatility when estimating population.

Continue reading →