Tag Archives: Employment

Idaho sees growth in startup jobs and new business applications in 2024

A positive byproduct of “startups” — defined as new private establishments open for less than a year — are the jobs they create. While Idaho’s startups account for a smaller share of private jobs now than in the 1990s, the state’s total employment has benefitted from them, growing from around 15,000 jobs in 1994 to over 27,000 jobs in 2024 — a 79.6% overall increase, or 2.2% annually.

Idaho finds itself in a healthy state of net job growth from startups, especially over the past 14 years when the greatest growth occurred. Figure 1 below plots the employment of startups in Idaho and the U.S. from 1994-2024. Despite a slight employment decrease in 2023, Idaho job growth from startups was again on the rise in 2024. Nationally, however, net job growth from startups dropped 14.6% from 1994-2024, a 1.4% decline per year. 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 →

Idaho’s March unemployment rate remains at 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

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

March’s labor force decreased by 667 (-0.1%) people to 1,011,659 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 February and March, down to 63.7%.

Total employment decreased by 339 to 974,031 as unemployment decreased by 328 (-0.9%) to 37,628.

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Learn about how the cost of child care affects Idaho’s labor force, April 8

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 3, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

Twelve percent of working parents reported using daycare as a means for child care support in Idaho, compared to 55% of parents having no support or 26% of parents having child care support from relatives.

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Brandon Duong will delve into this topic and provide context into how the cost of child care impacts the state’s labor force at a webinar, Tuesday, April 8.

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Construction industry has highest percentage growth in Idaho

Idaho’s construction industry is one of the top industries, besides health care and social assistance, with the highest percentage growth in Idaho. The industry has grown over 60% from 2004 to 2024, driven by accelerated population gains and economic development from the past few decades.

Employment

Construction employment declined by 44% (or 22,887 people) during 2007-2011 as a consequence from the Great Recession’s impact on the economy. As the economy continued to recover after the Great Recession, so did construction employment with consistent growth over the past decade. Construction employment passed its previous 2007 peak in 2020 and has continued to experience growth with the current average employment in 2024 consisting of 66,389 private construction workers in Idaho.

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Idaho’s February unemployment rate drops to 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 28, 2025
Media Contact: William.Winkle@labor.idaho.gov or Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

– State first in nation for over-the-year nonfarm job growth at 2.7% –

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point between January and February, down to 3.7%.

February’s labor force increased by 433 people to 1,012,372 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 January and February, down to 63.8%.

Total employment increased by 797 (0.1%) to 974,409 as unemployment decreased by 364 (0.9%) to 37,963. Continue reading →

Labor economists to discuss changes in Idaho’s rural demographics at webinar March 25

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 19, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Research Analyst Supervisor Craig Shaul and Labor Economists Jan Roeser and Seth Harrington will discuss changes over the past 20 years in the state’s rural demographics at a webinar Tuesday, March 25. The webinar takes place from 11 a.m. to noon MT over Zoom.

“Idaho has experienced impressive growth in the last 20 years,” Shaul said. “This webinar will take a detailed look at how the demographics of rural Idaho have changed during this time.”

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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 →

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.

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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

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