Tag Archives: Employment

Labor economist to analyze Idaho’s marginal labor force at August webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 12, 2025
Media Contact: Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Lisa Grigg will discuss the subsections of Idaho’s population that are potentially overlooked and underutilized within the labor force at a webinar, Tuesday, Aug. 19.

“Labor force numbers show Idaho’s trends in both employment and unemployment, but there is a large portion of the population that it misses. If someone wants a job, but is not actively sending out resumes or contacting employers – they are not considered part of the labor force,” Grigg said. “This webinar is meant to try to help employers understand the main reasons job seekers may drop out of the labor force – even if they would prefer to be employed.”

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, July 2025

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

Kootenai County

  • Construction is underway on a large new mixed-use project in Post Falls. Named ‘Nonna,’ the project includes a 50,000 square-foot building with four stories, including commercial space on the ground floor and 33 apartment units on the upper three levels. Commercial tenants will include a ground-floor brunch restaurant. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A new food truck court, called Eats On Spokane Street, is open in Post Falls. The location includes a new open-air building which houses MelFit Healthy Kitchen and Nachos Cantina, with four food trucks including Charcuteria, Angel’s Eats and Treats, Woody’s Smoked Salmon and Taco Works. There are three remaining spaces for additional food trucks. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Idaho’s unemployment rate remains at 3.6% in June

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2025
Media Contact: John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between May and June, remaining at 3.6%.

June’s labor force decreased by 541 people (-0.1%) to 1,010,662 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 May and June, down to 63.4%.
Total employment decreased by 426 to 973,958 and unemployment decreased by 115 (-0.3%) to 36,704.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, June 2025

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

Kootenai County

  • Coeur d’Alene Ironman was held on Sunday, June 22. The 70.3-mile triathlon, which has become a fixture summer event in Coeur d’Alene, drew more than 1,000 athletes to northern Idaho this year. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A new retail center in Coeur d’Alene is nearing completion and has begun announcing tenants. A Five Guys restaurant and EyeMart Express will anchor the new Heritage Square on U.S. 95 in northern Coeur d’Alene. The property has additional retail spaces available, with Five Guys set to open in July. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Post Falls City Council approved a construction improvement agreement for a 148-lot subdivision in northern Post Falls. The project, dubbed Crown Reserve, will be located north of the Crown Pointe Subdivision and will require significant infrastructure improvements. No timeline has been published for construction. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Idaho Department of Labor works to prevent, stop unemployment insurance fraud

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

The conviction of Woody Roberts, 38, of Jerome, for two counts of Misrepresentation to Obtain Unemployment Insurance Benefits, began as an investigation by Idaho Department of Labor compliance staff as part of the Department’s efforts to stop unemployment insurance fraud.

“Preventing unemployment insurance fraud helps us keep unemployment insurance taxes low while still providing benefits to eligible individuals,” said Idaho Department of Labor Director Jani Revier.

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Idaho’s unemployment rate drops to 3.6% in May

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 20, 2025
Media Contact: John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

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

May’s labor force decreased by 875 people (-0.1%) to 1,011,244 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 April and May, down to 63.5%.

Total employment decreased by 398 to 974,419 as unemployment decreased by 477 (-1.3%) to 36,825.

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Speak with employers in eastern Idaho at hiring event, June 25

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

A hiring event will be held Wednesday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Idaho Department of Labor office at 1515 E. Lincoln Road in Idaho Falls.

Employers planning to attend include American Fabrication, Idaho Army National Guard, City of Blackfoot, Frosty Gater, Grease Monkey, Roof Rescue, TRIO – Idaho State University, HK Contractors and others.

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Idaho’s housing market reflects construction trends

The housing market has been a hot topic in recent years as high mortgage rates and rising prices have created affordability challenges across the state. To address these challenges, multi-family housing unit permits have had an increasing share of overall housing permits in Idaho.

Additionally, the labor force side of the equation is growing strong, as construction employment is the second largest growing industry in the state.

Affordability challenges

Rising unaffordability is a nationwide challenge, both rent and house owner’s equivalent of rent have shown increases in almost identical ways. Prices stagnated during 2008-2011 as the housing crisis turned the housing market upside down.

Outside of the housing crisis, housing costs have continued to increase even faster since 2021, as inflation and mortgage rates began to rise. The prices have been shrinking the number of homes on the market and rising costs of inputs (lumber, concrete, steel, etc.) for new homes.

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Idaho’s rural recreational counties lead state for number of employers per resident

Idaho is a large state with significant land area in mountain ranges, forests, wilderness and cropland. Although beautiful and geologically diverse, the state’s rugged landscape results in low overall population density compared to many U.S. states.

Averaging 24 residents per square mile, the Gem State has a population density that is nearly one-fourth that of the U.S. (96 people per square mile) and holds the No. 6 lowest density per square mile compared to all other states (between No. 5 being New Mexico with 18 people per square mile and No. 7 being Nebraska with 26 people per square mile).

The population density of Idaho’s nine urban counties (Ada, Bannock, Bonneville, Canyon, Kootenai, Latah, Madison, Nez Perce and Twin Falls) combined, averages 143 residents per square mile. The remaining 35 rural counties average significantly lower population density with eight residents per square mile.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, May 2025

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

Kootenai County

  • North Idaho College’s (NIC) trustees voted unanimously to bring forward a $58.9 million budget for fiscal year 2026 which includes the college’s first tuition increase since 2019. The budget proposal includes a tuition increase of $5.50 per credit for in-district students and $6 per credit for all other students. The budget proposal would shrink NIC’s budget deficit from $5.2 million in fiscal year 2025 to $1.2 million in the upcoming fiscal year. Even with the proposed tuition increase, NIC’s tuition rates would remain tied with the College of Southern Idaho, which is the lowest in the state. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • School levies in Post Falls and Lakeland School District passed with 62% and 66% support, respectively. Post Falls passed a $5.9 million per year supplemental levy which will support extracurriculars, school safety measures, staff salaries andother items. Lakeland passed a $7.5 million per year supplemental levy. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Post Falls City Council approved a $11.7 million project to design and build a new public works operations center. The new facility will eventually house the city’s streets, water operations and utility divisions. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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