Idaho’s January unemployment rate remains at 3.8%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 17, 2025
Media Contact: will.winkle@labor.idaho.gov or craig.shaul@labor.idaho.gov

– State first in nation for over-the-year nonfarm job growth at 2.8% –

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 3.8%.

December 2024’s unemployment rate also remained the same at 3.8% after the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) annual benchmarking process. (More information about the benchmarking process can be found below.)

January’s labor force increased by 2,168 people (0.2%) to 1,011,937 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 63.9%. Continue reading →

Idaho’s most populated counties drive state’s growth

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2025
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s 44 counties grew by 1.5%, or over 30,497 new residents, between July 2023 and July 2024, according to recent U.S. Census population estimates. Higher population counties experienced more growth than rural areas, in line with a nationwide trend of metro areas seeing a resurgence after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, Idaho’s growth was more evenly dispersed across less populated rural counties and more populated urban counties.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought a rush of new residents to Idaho, particularly impacting rural areas of low population density that offered outdoor recreation,” said Labor Economist Jan Roeser. Continue reading →

LAUNCH workshop is available for graduating seniors, online, March 20

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is offering an online workshop, Thursday, March 20, to graduating high school senior students interested in applying to the LAUNCH career education grant program.

The workshop is from 5 to 7 p.m. MT and takes place via Microsoft Teams. Register at the department’s Eventbrite event page.

All students graduating in 2025 under the age of 21, including public, private, charter, homeschool and English as a second language students are welcome to attend.

Continue reading →

ICONIC program gave resident meaningful training to pursue a new career

Robert Kerns

Former ICONIC participant Robert Kerns

Boise resident Robert Kerns knew he wanted to segue his career to working in the construction industry. It was just a matter of how.

Soon, he discovered the ICONIC program offered by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to help him reach his career goals. This five-week unpaid free training gives Idahoans an opportunity to gain a certification in heavy equipment operation and gives participants the necessary skills employers are looking for when they fill positions.

Most graduates who participate in the program may go on to obtain their commercial driver’s license to operate heavy vehicles.

Continue reading →

Hiring event in Coeur d’Alene will feature over 40 open jobs in northern Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

A hiring event will be held Wednesday, March 12, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave.

Employers planning to attend include Gozzer Ranch, Coeur d’ Alene Public Schools, Integrated Interventions, Kootenai Health, NAPA Auto Parts, the Idaho Division of Veteran Services, Aerotek and more.

Open positions will be available for job seekers including sales representatives, manufacturers, bus drivers, teachers, camp counselors, registered nurses, financial coaches, designers — among others.

Continue reading →

Port of Lewiston celebrates 50 years of economic development and job creation

In the spring of 1975, the Port of Lewiston opened for commerce when the first barge headed west down the Columbia-Snake River system.

Despite being approved by Nez Perce County voters in 1958, it was not until Lower Granite Dam was completed in 1975 that the Port of Lewiston became fully operational and was established as Idaho’s only seaport.

While the Lewiston metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — incorporating Nez Perce County, Idaho and Asotin County, Washington — is the only MSA in Idaho not adjacent to an interstate highway, it is the sole MSA in Idaho located along the U.S. Marine Highway system.

Over the last 50 years, the Port of Lewiston has had a significant impact in making the employment of north central Idaho both economically resilient as well as very distinctive compared with Idaho’s other labor regions. 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 →

Jobs available at career fair in Caldwell, March 6

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 28, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

A career fair for job seekers interested in working in the government sector, will be held Thursday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Idaho Department of Labor Caldwell office, 4514 Thomas Jefferson St.

Employers planning to attend include the State of Idaho, the Transportation Security Administration, the Idaho Veterans Care Facility, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Army and more.

A variety of open positions will be available including law enforcement, military and retirement care.

Continue reading →

Idaho sees increase in workplace fatalities in 2023

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 26, 2025
Media Contact: Therese.Schumacher@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho had 48 workplace fatalities in 2023 — a 23% increase from 2022 and the highest number of deaths in a single year in the past 10 years — according to the most recent Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) report on 2023 data.

The annual CFOI report documents fatal on-the-job injuries for workers — it does not include illnesses or preexisting conditions that caused a worker to die without an injury, such as COVID or a heart attack. Continue reading →

Hands-on training in heavy equipment operation available in Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 26, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

Free training is available for Idahoans wanting to pursue a career in heavy equipment operation.

The Idaho Career Opportunities – Next in Construction (ICONIC) program is a path to a rewarding career in highway construction. Most graduates who participate in the program may go on to obtain their commercial driver’s license to operate heavy vehicles.

The five-week intensive course involves a mix of classroom and hands-on learning. The next training session takes place in Boise from April 7 to May 9.

Continue reading →