Tag Archives: Employment

Idaho receives benchmark adjustments for 2025 labor force statistics

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 6, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Every February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) performs a nationwide benchmarking process to incorporate data that was unavailable during regular monthly publications, such as new population estimates from the United States Census Bureau and employment data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

The benchmarking process includes revisions to state labor force estimates: population, employed, unemployed, unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs.

After benchmarking, the BLS adjustments made for Idaho resulted in lower unemployment rates than were initially reported for most of 2025. However, the post-benchmarked unemployment rate for December 2025 remained at 3.6%. The unemployment rate for January 2026 was released on April 6.

Benchmarked data for counties, cities, and smaller statistical areas will be available May 22, 2026.

Additional benchmark data is available at lmi.idaho.gov/data-tools/labor-force-statistics/

Other Idaho labor market information can be found at lmi.idaho.gov

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This project is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an Employment and Training Administration award totaling $695,785.

Idaho’s January unemployment rate increases to 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 6, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased between December and January, from 3.6% to 3.7%.

December’s labor force decreased by 105 people to 1,009,832 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.1 percentage point between December and January, down to 62.8%.

Total employment decreased by 504 (-0.1%) to 972,737 and unemployment increased by 399 (1.1%) to 37,095. Continue reading →

Graduate earns fulfilling career upon graduating construction program

About four months ago, Grant Childers was operating heavy equipment at Land Lab Day while enrolled in the ICONIC program in Boise. He was just days away from graduating and earning his certification. Little did he know, he would meet his future employer that day.

Grant Childers stands proudly in his vest at Land Lab Day in November 2025.

Grant Childers stands proudly in his vest at Land Lab Day in November 2025.

“When I first arrived to the field day, the program director immediately introduced me to a few of the instructors at the program. I asked each of them about who they felt were their top candidates and Grant’s name was consistently at the top,” Manager of RivHab Engineering and EarthWorks Zack Billingsley said. “In fact, I specifically remember one of them saying that while there were quite a few candidates that he’d recommend, Grant was in a league of his own.”

Continue reading →

ICONIC program hosts Contractor Day in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Boise

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 9, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Construction contractors are invited to meet prospective heavy equipment operators this spring in three Idaho communities as part of the ICONIC program.

When participants are close to obtaining their certification in heavy equipment operation from the Idaho Career Opportunities – Next in Construction (ICONIC) program, local businesses are invited to meet participants and see their ability to use heavy machinery.

Continue reading →

Economic snapshot: A look at Idaho’s full-service restaurant industry

Full-Service Restaurants have a significant impact on Idaho’s economy. In 2025, the National Restaurant Association estimated that Idaho’s Full-Service Restaurants provided $2.76 billion in direct economic output and employs more than 28,500 people. This is 3% of Idaho’s overall employment.1

Full-Service Restaurants are restaurants with a waitstaff and offer a dining experience with table service, compared with Limited-Service Restaurants which customers generally take the food to go and there is no table service, such as a fast-food restaurant.

Full-Service Restaurant in Idaho experienced disproportionate employment drops during the pandemic compared with total employment. This was due to people not going out as much to eat. While the state’s overall total employment declined 10.2% from 2019 to 2020 due to the pandemic, Full-Service Restaurant employment declined by a larger 14.3%. Since then, the industry in Idaho stagnated from 2023-2024 (shown in Figure 1) and has not returned to the level it was before the pandemic.

Continue reading →

State requests public comments for modification of 2024-2027 state workforce plan

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 10, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor and the Workforce Development Council are requesting public comment on the proposed modification of Idaho’s 2024-2027 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Combined State Plan.

Idaho’s workforce development system is comprised of a network of state, regional, local agencies and organizations that provide a range of services. This includes employment, education, training and overall support to help all job-seekers secure good jobs while providing businesses with the skilled workers they need to compete in a global economy. Continue reading →

Around Idaho: Economic activity, January 2026

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

  • Amid the warmest winter on record, snowpack across northern Idaho is far below normal, creating what a hydrologist at the Idaho Department of Water Resources have called a “snow drought.” Precipitation levels have been normal, but high temperatures have led to more rain than snow, allowing high runoff. The low snowpack makes it likely that northern Idaho will continue to see drought conditions for the fourth consecutive year. Source: Bonner County Daily Bee
  • Heritage Health is breaking ground on Phase 2 of their Center for Healthy Living. When the new phase is completed, it will consolidate a variety of services in a single facility, including medical, dental, pediatric and behavioral health services. The Phase 2 facility will cost $4 million and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • An 85,000 square foot, $5 million indoor pickleball facility is under construction in Post Falls. Slated for opening in June, The Flying Pickle is the first northern Idaho franchise for the Meridian-based company. The facility will include 24 indoor courts. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Continue reading →

Idaho’s December unemployment rate decreases to 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 23, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased between November and December, from 3.7% to 3.6%.

December’s labor force increased by 1,628 (0.2%) people to 1,013,141 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – was unchanged between November and December, remaining at 62.9%.

Total employment increased by 1,755 (0.2%) to 976,258 and unemployment decreased by 127 (-0.3%) to 36,883. Continue reading →

Economic snapshot: Idaho’s growing fitness industry

The holiday season is in the rearview mirror and New Year’s resolutions are near to mind. An overwhelmingly popular resolve is to be more active, with gym memberships recently reaching a record-breaking 77 million in the U.S.1 In Idaho, the fitness industry has grown by 85% over the past decade — increasing from 175 to 324 establishments — and has been directly tied to the state’s notable population growth.2

About one in four Americans participate in the fitness and recreational sports center industry (commonly referred to as the “fitness industry”) which includes gyms, sports clubs, swimming complexes, yoga and Pilates studios, skating rinks and hot springs along with indoor soccer, tennis and pickleball courts.3 Continue reading →

Idaho’s unemployment rate at 3.7% in November

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 7, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 3.7%. This rate matches the 3.7% unemployment rate published in September. October labor force data was not available due to the federal government shutdown.

November’s labor force was 1,011,367 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – was at 62.9%. Total employment was 974,410 and unemployment was 36,957.

Continue reading →