Tag Archives: Population

Idaho’s population growth rate second in nation for 2025

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2026
Media Contact: Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s population continued its pattern of growth in 2025 with an over-the-year growth rate of 1.4%, ranking second nationally, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s recent population estimate data. From April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, Idaho grew the fastest in the nation at 10.4% growth, adding 190,610 new residents for a total of 2,029,733 people.

Idaho’s over-the-year population growth rate has bounced between 1.4% and 1.5% over the past three years, significantly lower than the growth rates seen in 2021 and 2022 (3% and 2% respectively). However, the state’s growth in 2025 was still higher than the nation’s growth of 0.5% and that of its contiguous states, including:

  • Utah (1%)
  • Nevada (0.9%)
  • Washington (0.9%)
  • Montana (0.6%)
  • Wyoming (0.3%)
  • Oregon (0.2%)

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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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Several Idaho cities rank in national top 100 list for population growth for 2020-2024

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 16, 2025
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov or
Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

The cumulative population growth of five Idaho cities from 2020-2024 ranked in the top 100 nationally — Caldwell was in 51st place at 21.5%, followed by Kuna in 54th (21%), Post Falls in 70th (18.6%), Meridian in 71st (18.6%) and Nampa in 91st (16.8%), according to recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The combined population of Idaho’s 202 incorporated* cities grew by 1.8% from 2023-2024, outpacing the state’s overall growth of 1.5%. 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 most populated counties drive state’s growth

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2025
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s 44 counties grew by 1.5%, or over 30,497 new residents, between July 2023 and July 2024, according to recent U.S. Census population estimates. Higher population counties experienced more growth than rural areas, in line with a nationwide trend of metro areas seeing a resurgence after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, Idaho’s growth was more evenly dispersed across less populated rural counties and more populated urban counties.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought a rush of new residents to Idaho, particularly impacting rural areas of low population density that offered outdoor recreation,” said Labor Economist Jan Roeser. Continue reading →

Idaho county population growth cools with recent U.S. Census updates

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2024
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov

While Idaho’s population continues to grow, its momentum has slowed in recent years based on U.S. Census updates. From July 2022 to July 2023 (the U.S. Census data period for this article), Idaho’s 44 counties saw a 1.3% population growth — a more modest growth rate compared to the 1.8% in July 2022 and 3.0% in July 2021.

Idaho added 25,730 new residents with almost half the counties growing at a faster rate than the state between July of 2022 and July of 2023. Only two counties lost population — Caribou (-9 residents) and Madison (-411 residents). Madison County is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho, where the ebb and flow of students creates volatility when estimating population.

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Labor economists expect Idaho job growth to increase annually through 2025

Idaho is expected to continue its trend of job creation, reaching total employment of nearly 900,000 in 2025, according to new short-term projections from the Idaho Department of Labor. The new projections (which cover the 2023-2025 period) come against a backdrop of great economic strength in the state, which has consistently created jobs and maintained a low level of unemployment despite national economic turbulence like inflation and rising interest rates. Idaho’s annual projected employment growth rate of 1.2% signals the state’s labor market is expected to remain strong in the coming year.

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Idaho’s 2023 population growth outpaces the nation

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 5, 2024
Media Contact: Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s population growth in 2023 was double the national average of 0.5%. The U.S. added 1.6 million people, bringing its population estimate to 334,914,895 — higher than the growth rate of 0.4% in 2022 and 0.2% in 2021.

The U.S. Census estimates Idaho’s July 2023 population at 1,964,726 — an increase of 1.3% from July 2022 — ranking it fourth nationally in percentage growth. Despite the state’s position as 17th in numerical growth and falling from its top 10 status of the past two years, Idaho still outpaces the national population growth rate.

While most states experienced a population rebound from 2022 to 2023, only eight saw a decline — a contrast to the 18 declining states from 2021 to 2022.

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Idaho’s economy and labor market: A decade of growth and change

Idaho’s economy and labor market have undergone significant changes in the last 10 years. The state has experienced a population boom after its recovery from the Great Recession, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Population growth and the labor market

One of the most striking features of Idaho’s economy in the last decade is the surge in its population. According to the Census Bureau, from 2012 to 2022, Idaho witnessed an increase of 343,000 residents inside its borders raising its total population to 1.939 million. If all of the additional residents collected themselves to start a new city in Idaho, it would be 45% larger than Boise, the state’s largest city with a population in 2022 of 236,632. This thought experiment demonstrates not only the magnitude of the population increase but the incredible economic change it drove.

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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Idaho Rural Water Association taps apprenticeships to fill retirements

Where does the water from our faucet go? Or maybe the water from the toilet?

Wastewater travels down our pipes to individual water districts across Idaho, where it is treated by Idaho Rural Water Association workers.

Water being tested

As a leader of dedicated employees in wastewater treatment, the organization trains and creates specialists who play a critical role in providing healthy water for our communities.

Job vacancies in the wastewater treatment industry are tough to fill.  Idaho’s retirement rate in this industry is slightly above average compared to the United States, according to Idaho Department of Labor economist Jan Roeser.

In total – 40% over the national average.

But on the other end of the spectrum, there are many people employed as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Idaho — 1,410 to be exact. Breaking that up geographically, there are about 500 employed operators in rural Idaho.

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