Tag Archives: Idaho Department of Labor

Around Idaho: Economic activity, December 2025

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

  • Unfavorable weather has so far prevented area ski resorts from full and consistent operations. Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain, in Shoshone County, both had delayed openings and have since experienced intermittent closures due to inconsistent weather. Schweitzer, in Bonner County, currently has one lift operating. Idaho ranked No. 10 nationally for total annual skier visits. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital is expanding services with the opening of a new 17-bed rehabilitation unit at their Post Falls campus. This will raise the capacity at the Post Falls campus, which is shared with Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest, to a total of 47 intensive medical rehabilitation beds. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Idaho’s e-commerce industry continues to grow

One of the most visible trends in the American economy — especially during the holiday season — has been the long and steady rise of online retail sales, or e-commerce. Currently, in 2025, e-commerce accounts for more than 16% of all retail sales in the U.S., and trends suggest it will continue to gain ground in future years.

E-commerce has been growing as an industry since the turn of the century. In 2000, e-commerce retail sales made up less than 1% of total retail activity in the U.S. Since then, this share has continued to increase steadily, with a rapid acceleration occurring in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as can be seen below in Figure 1. Continue reading →

Idaho’s September unemployment rate remains at 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec. 11, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between August and September, staying at 3.7%.

September’s labor force increased by 687 (0.1%) people to 1,010,111 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 August and September, down to 63%.

Total employment increased by 441 to 972,828 and unemployment increased by 246 (0.7%) to 37,283. Continue reading →

Idaho Department of Labor Rexburg mobile location moves

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec. 1, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor’s Rexburg mobile location has moved to 314 N. 3rd E.

The location has extended hours of operation and is open to customers Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The location is shared with Eastern Idaho Public Health Madison County Office WIC.

Customers will get the same assistance with resume writing, job applications, interview preparation, job training opportunities, community resources and filing for unemployment insurance benefits that was available at the previous location.

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Despite an aging population, Idaho’s labor force is getting younger

Idaho was one of the fastest growing states over the past decade, cresting 2 million residents in 2024. While the state’s average age increased from 35.9 in 2014 to 37.8 in 2024, this was still relatively younger than the national average of 39.1.1

From 2014-2024, the population of Idahoans age 16+ increased by 27.5% — more than triple the national rate of 8.3%. Similarly, the state’s labor force increased by 30.5%, as compared with the 7.8% increase nationwide.2

The changing demographics of Idaho’s general population have impacted its labor force and labor force-eligible population (defined as those over the age of 16 who are not a full-time student, member of the military or incarcerated). The effects of in-migration, the displacement of older workers and an increased participation among women and youth can be seen in the age and gender breakdown of the data.

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Idaho grows its waste management workforce

Employment needs within Idaho’s waste management industry remain reliably consistent over time, reflecting the essential nature of the services it provides. Trash doesn’t take a day off and continues to be generated even during the coldest months of winter, the worst economic recessions and amid unpredictable 100-year pandemics. While trash volume will be dictated in part by consumer behavior, it is more closely associated with population growth.

Between 2014-2024, Idaho added 370,000 new residents and led the nation with a population growth rate of 23%. This was more than three times the U.S. growth rate of 7%.¹ During the same period, as shown in Figure 1, privatized waste management employment in Idaho added more than 2,000 jobs and increased by 98% (compared with 23% growth for the U.S. waste management sector). Like population, Idaho’s private waste management employment experienced the highest growth rate of any U.S. state.²

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Boise man sentenced for unemployment insurance fraud

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 19, 2025
Media Contact: Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

Bryan Hayhurst, 39, of Boise, pleaded guilty to one felony count of Misrepresentation to Obtain Unemployment Benefits, which is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Hayhurst was sentenced by Ada County Judge Peter Barton on Nov. 19 to five years in prison, with two years fixed and three years indeterminate. Hayhurst was also ordered to pay restitution of $16,083.08 to the Idaho Department of Labor.

The Labor Department requires unemployment insurance (UI) claimants to report accurately when filing each week of their claim. In this case, between April 2020 through July 2020, Hayhurst claimed he had not worked when he had worked and earned wages.

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Webinar spotlights two decades of economic change in rural Idaho

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 12, 2025
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a webinar focusing on the past 20 years of growth in rural Idaho, Tuesday, Nov. 18.

“Idaho’s population has grown three times as fast as the U.S. This webinar will bring together rural voices and community leaders to speak in detail about their experiences as rural residents,” Labor Market Research Manager Craig Shaul said.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT.

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Hiring event brings job opportunities in Idaho Falls

NEWS RELEASE

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

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event in Idaho Falls, Wednesday, Nov. 12. The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Job seekers in the state’s eastern region are invited to arrive at the department’s office for the event. The address is 1515 E. Lincoln Road.

Employers planning to attend range from Bonneville County, Citizens Community Bank, Melaleuca, the Idaho Transportation Department, Lamb Weston, Idaho National Laboratory, Teton Stage Lines, TRIO – Idaho State University and many more.

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Connect with employers in Kootenai County at hiring event, Nov. 5

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 30, 2025
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Correction: The hiring event is taking place in Coeur d’Alene. See correction below.

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Coeur d’Alene Library. The address is 702 E. Front Ave.

Job seekers are invited to show up between noon and 3 p.m.

Employers that will be recruiting include Access Care at Home, Ace Industrial Supply, Aerotek, Coeur d’Alene Public Schools, Hyatt Place, Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation, North Idaho College and more.

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