Tag Archives: Economy

Around Idaho: Economic activity, October 2026

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

  • Unemployment insurance (UI) weekly claims: The northern region reported an average of 69 weekly initial UI claims and 347 weekly continuing claims in September 2026. Initial claim volume increased 38.1% from the previous month and 6.2% from September 2025. However, continuing claim volume decreased 15.3% from September 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims increased 1.8% from August 2026 and decreased 10.7% from September 2025. Statewide weekly continuing claims decreased 13.5% from the previous month and 15.1% from September 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • The Sandpoint City Council approved agreements advancing the planned reconstruction of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The project includes an estimated $60 million first phase, with total costs potentially reaching $130 million. The city selected Stantec Consulting Services Inc. as the owner’s representative and will begin project planning, engineering coordination, budgeting and procurement activities. Source: Sandpoint Reader
  • A new Post Falls community celebrated the completion of an affordable housing project. The approximately $6.5 million starter‑home development was funded through a public‑private partnership that resulted in the construction of 28 shared‑equity homes on a 4.7‑acre site in Post Falls. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining is expanding its operational reach through the acquisition of approximately 14,100 additional acres in eastern Shoshone County. According to company officials, the combination of expanded land holdings and ongoing redevelopment of the Sunshine Mine positions the company to pursue short‑term production and sustain long‑term exploration activities. Sunshine Silver has identified late 2028 as its target for returning to production. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Construction is underway on a new $9 million, 30,500-square-foot multicourt gymnasium at Christian Center School in Hayden. The facility will feature a double-court configuration, fitness and training areas, locker rooms and a multipurpose commons area. Once completed, the facility will accommodate up to 800 attendees for games, tournaments and community events. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

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Idaho expected to see annual employment growth over national average through 2034

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 7, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s labor market is expected to continue its significant expansion through the end of the decade, with a projected employment growth rate of 1.3% per year and a total employment count reaching 1,028,760 by 2034. These new long-term employment projections are estimates from the Idaho Department of Labor and cover the period from 2024-2034.

Idaho’s long-term projected growth rate of 1.3% is significantly higher than the national forecast. The most recent projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipate a national growth rate of approximately 0.3% annually — less than one fourth of the projected growth rate for Idaho.

These projections are consistent with Idaho’s record of strong job creation in recent years, including rapid growth from 2010-2020, and an economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that was among the strongest in the nation. Continue reading →

Labor economist will present data on self-employment in Idaho at upcoming webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 6, 2026
Media Contact: Knox.Freedman@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Knox Freedman will be examining self-employment statistics and evaluating trends in the state at a webinar, Tuesday, Oct. 13.

This webinar will also analyze the impacts of self-employment on the broader labor market and economy, as well as its relationship to wages and labor supply.

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Idaho’s job market experiences rising demand, stubborn shortages and changing expectations

Idaho’s labor market has changed significantly over the past 10 years. For many years, Idaho employers were generally better at finding workers than other states. However, more recent job vacancy data, such as the time it takes to fill jobs, turnover rates and job postings, show that expectations have shifted. Employers now find it harder to fill open jobs, while workers have more opportunities.

Job vacancy yield

The past few years have seen some of the tightest labor markets in modern history for both Idaho and the nation, making it difficult for many employers to fill open positions. One of the indicators of how effectively employers are able to fill jobs is the monthly vacancy yield, which measures the number of hires each month compared with the number of job openings remaining from the previous month.

As shown in Figure 1 below, Idaho employers have hired about one person for every job vacancy at many points over the past decade, which is considered strong labor demand. Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic activity, September 2026

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

  • Unemployment insurance (UI) weekly claims: The northern region reported 50 average weekly initial UI claims and 319 average weekly continuing claims during August 2026. Initial claim volume has increased 12.7% from the previous month and decreased 5.3% from August 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims decreased 13.6% from July 2026 and 29.2% from August 2025. Statewide continuing claims decreased 12.2% from last month and 12.2% from August 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • North Idaho College and Lewis‑Clark State College announced a memorandum of understanding establishing a co‑admission and co‑enrollment agreement. The agreement is designed to provide a seamless pathway for students to earn an associate degree at North Idaho College and complete a bachelor’s degree at Lewis‑Clark State College. Students participating in co‑enrollment will have access to resources at both institutions. Source: North Idaho College
  • ATC Manufacturing began construction to expand the Post Falls facility. The project will increase the facility’s size by 57,365 square feet and is expected to double workforce capacity upon completion. The expansion is projected to be finished in summer 2027. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest completed a series of facility expansions and enhancements. The hospital provides care for individuals recovering from disabilities resulting from injuries, illness or chronic medical conditions. The complete improvements increased the facility’s capacity to 70 private patient rooms. Source: Ernest Health
  • Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has continued expanding its operations in Idaho with the purchase of a large industrial building in Post Falls. This expansion will allow the company to bring two facilities online to help meet demand for its electronic devices. The new manufacturing facility is expected to be fully operational in 2027 and to initially create approximately 250 manufacturing careers. Source: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

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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.

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Labor economists to present webinar on how Idaho’s hiring demand has evolved

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 4, 2026
Media Contact: Brandon.Duong@labor.idaho.gov or Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economists Brandon Duong and Ryan Whitesides will be discussing Idaho’s hiring landscape from pre‑pandemic years to today at a webinar, Tuesday, Aug. 11.

This webinar breaks down where employers are struggling and where opportunities are opening up.

“Understanding how long jobs sit open and which industries are tightening isn’t just an economic story, but it affects the everyday experience of finding or filling a job,” Whitesides said.

Continue reading →

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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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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