Tag Archives: Labor force

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 →

Idaho’s February unemployment rate remains at 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 20, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

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

February’s labor force decreased by 1,683 (-0.2%) people to 1,008,136 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 January and February, down to 62.7%.

Total employment decreased by 1,539 (-0.2%) to 971,186 and unemployment decreased by 144 (-0.4%) to 36,950. Continue reading →

Economic snapshot: 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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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 →

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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