Tag Archives: Labor economist

Around Idaho: Economic activity, April 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of April 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 91 average weekly initial unemployment insurance (UI) claims and 1,245 average weekly continuing claims during March 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 32% from the previous month and 48% from the 175 average weekly initial claims filed in March 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in the northern region decreased 22% from February 2026 and 30% from the 1,771 average weekly claims in March 2025. Overall, weekly volume for both initial and continuing claims decreased statewide compared to last month and March 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • The Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation completed the acquisition of Silverwood Theme Park. Silverwood is the largest theme park in the northwest and maintains a seasonal workforce of 1,200 employees. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Learn about Idaho’s economy and how income is measured during Labor webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhaur@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Labor Research Analyst Supervisor Sam Wolkenhauer will discuss how income is measured and what those measurements reveal about the ways Idaho is changing during a webinar Tuesday, May 5.

Income is measured in a variety of ways including household income, wages and salary and total personal income. These measures paint a picture about the dynamic changes ongoing in Idaho, including the state’s demographics and economic growth. This webinar will also explore what the income data tells us about Idaho’s urbanization and housing market.

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Survey highlights a more stable labor market but continuing retention issues for Idaho employers in 2025

The 2025 Business Climate Survey results show both cautious optimism and continued labor force bottlenecks for Idaho employers. Although the state’s labor situation is cooling to a more balanced market than when the survey was initiated in 2023, the inability for some Idaho employers to attract and retain workers in 2025 continues to result in operational gaps.

Fewer employers looking to add jobs; low expectations to reduce headcount

The share of employers expecting to add jobs over the next five years has gradually decreased over the past three surveys but has been offset by an increase in those expecting to maintain employment at current levels (see Figure 1).

Overall, approximately 90% of Idaho employers expect to either maintain or increase their employee count within the next five years. Inversely, around 9% of employers expect their workforce to shrink — a ratio consistent with the survey responses of the past three years. Continue reading →

Tax season brings jobs to Idaho

It’s said that there are two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Indeed, the post-holiday January through April period is widely known for its characteristic W-2 and 1095 tax forms.

For many, Tax Day isn’t just a deadline — it’s employment. Tax Preparation Services specialize in helping people file their tax returns and every year, businesses ramp up hiring for the pre-tax season. As a seasonal industry, recruitment begins between October and December to prepare for the surge of customers in the first quarter. From January to March, employment peaks with hundreds of tax preparers hired in Idaho for the season.

After taxes are due in April, employment drops. In July through September, during the off-season, employment can be at times less than half of peak tax season. This reduced employment can be supported by activities like early filing, extended returns and tax planning.

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Economists will highlight migration, housing and work-from-home trends in upcoming webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2026
Media Contact: Brandon.Duong@labor.idaho.gov or Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov

The U.S. Census Bureau has released its first full post-pandemic sample of data for Idaho counties in its 5-year American Community Survey (ACS).

Idaho Department of Labor Economists Brandon Duong and Seth Harrington will be analyzing the released data including trends in migration, housing and work-from-home at a webinar, Tuesday, April 7.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, March 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of March 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 Health will take over management of the Hagadone Medical Clinic effective July 1, 2026. The clinic serves to provide primary patient care to Hagadone Corporation health plan members and their covered dependents. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Selkirk Sport received a $30 million investment from private equity firm Bluestone Equity Partners. Selkirk Sport produces pickleball paddles, shoes and accessories. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers opened in Coeur d’Alene in mid-March and hired 135 employees ahead of opening day. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Knight Construction and Supply was awarded a $20 million contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replace all 11 spillway gates at Albeni Falls Dam in Oldtown. The first replacement gate will arrive in 2027 and construction will be completed during the early 2030s. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • North Idaho Classical Academy in Bonners Ferry continues to make progress on construction of the new charter school. It will initially open to 240 students in grades K-7 in August 2026. Source: Bonners Ferry Herald

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Idaho women favor formal education pathways toward industries like health care, education

In 2024, women accounted for 46% of Idaho’s total occupational employment, making them less represented than men in the overall labor force. However, women were significantly more concentrated than men in the industries of health care, education, personal care services and office and administrative support. [1]

While men hold a higher share of jobs overall, women account for the majority of Idaho’s recent postsecondary education metrics, including both non-degree certificates and advanced degree completions. While data suggests women will continue to favor formal education at elevated levels, the growing diversity of alternative career pathways such as apprenticeships may reshape this pattern in the future. Continue reading →

Learn how Idaho women excel in workforce pathways in an upcoming webinar

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2026
Media Contact: Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho women represented a higher share of certificate degree completions in 2023-2024, compared with the national average, according to The National Center for Economic Statistics.

Idaho Department of Labor Economist Lisa Grigg will explore the high rates of postsecondary education achieved by Idaho’s women along with looking at industries where women represent the majority of the workforce at a webinar, Tuesday, March 10.

“As program opportunities have expanded statewide, women’s postsecondary enrollments have diversified but continue to remain rooted within the focus areas of health care, education, family and consumer sciences and culinary, entertainment and personal services,” Grigg said.

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Around Idaho: Economic activity, February 2026

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

  • Axis Spine Center opened a new facility within the Northwest Specialty Hospital Network in Post Falls. The new facility provides a wide range of spine and pain management services, including diagnostics, rehabilitation services and surgical interventions. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A joint venture between Americas Gold and Silver and United States Antimony will build and operate a new antimony processing plant at the Galena Mine near Wallace. The partnership will create a fully domestic and complete supply chain for antimony, which is a critical mineral used in special alloys, semiconductors, batteries and other products. Construction will be completed within 18 months of budget approval. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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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.

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