NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Aug. 21, 2024
Media Contact: Clinton.Renn@labor.idaho.gov
Idaho businesses and employers are invited to learn about unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the Idaho Department of Labor during a free Zoom webinar Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. MDT.
The webinar featuring UI Support Analysts Louie Downey and Justin Pinter, will cover the claim filing process, what happens when a claimant quits or is fired and how to protect an account from charges.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: June 18, 2024
Media Contact: Josh.McKenna@labor.idaho.gov
Starting July 7, unemployment insurance claimants in Idaho will need to complete and report five work search actions each week to receive benefits. Submitting a resume or job application to an employer or attending a job fair or workshop are examples of acceptable work search actions.
The Idaho Department of Labor offers help from navigators — unemployment insurance experts at local offices across the state — who can help claimants report their weekly actions and navigate the online claimant portal.
Workforce consultants are also available at local offices to help people with their job search, from preparing a resume to finding and applying for a job. Meeting with a workforce consultant can also be counted as a valid work search action.
Idaho’s 9.3-week average duration of unemployment claims during 2022-2023 was the lowest in the state’s history and the second lowest in the nation. By comparison, the U.S. average was 15 weeks. Similarly, the state’s 2.7% average unemployment rate for 2022 was the lowest since records began in 1976, eclipsing the previous low of 2.9% in the historically tight labor market of 2018 and 2019.
Low unemployment rates are not a new thing for Idaho. The state’s unemployment rate has been below 3% for three of the last six calendar years (between 2018-2023). Idaho has not recorded an annual unemployment rate of over 4% since 2014 (excluding the immediate post-pandemic period years of 2020-2021). The U.S. has seen rates over 4% as recently as 2017.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 15, 2024
Media Contact: Casey.Hofland@labor.idaho.gov
Starting July 7, Idahoans filing for unemployment insurance must complete and report five work search-related activities each week.
The increase from two to five activities claimants will be required to report each week is an outcome of House Bill 686, which passed during the 2024 legislative session and was signed into law by Gov. Brad Little.
“The Legislature’s intent with HB 686 is twofold — to increase the opportunities for Idahoans to secure meaningful work and to help businesses find employees,” said Idaho Department of Labor Director Jani Revier.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 8, 2024
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov
Idaho’s job market has remained remarkably robust since September 2023, maintaining a steady unemployment rate of 3.3%. Excluding the immediate post-pandemic period of 2020-2021, Idaho has not had an annual unemployment rate of over 4% since 2014, according to Labor Economist Lisa Grigg.
“Despite an incredibly low unemployment rate statewide, businesses still close, change processes, or must halt work due to seasonal factors, leading workers to rely on unemployment benefits as a temporary bridge between jobs,” Grigg said.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 3, 2024
Media Contact: Tyler.Smith@labor.idaho.gov
SIDES E-Response is a free, quick, accurate and secure way for employers to respond to unemployment insurance (UI) claim notices for laid-off or separated employees who file for unemployment benefits. The Idaho Department of Labor is encouraging Idaho employers to sign up.
When employers use SIDES (State Information Data Exchange System) to respond to information about a claim for unemployment insurance benefits filed by an employee, they play an important role in preventing and detect fraudulent claims according to SIDES Administrator Tyler Smith.
The following mistakes can cause issues receiving your unemployment insurance benefits and should be avoided.
1. You don’t file a weekly certification for the weeks you want to receive payment.
You need to submit your weekly certification even if:
The article was updated Jan. 15, 2026.
A 1099-G form is a summary of your unemployment insurance benefit payments. You were mailed this form if you collected or repaid benefits the prior year. The 1099-G form shows you the total taxable amount on the benefits you were paid in that calendar year.
Yes, unemployment insurance benefits are taxable. Benefit payments are reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Yes. Your IRS 1099-G information will be available online by Jan. 31 at labor.idaho.gov/ClaimantPortal.
To view your Form 1099-G:
This blog was updated July 5, 2024
A Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment is a required assessment designed to provide people who are unemployed with the support, tools and resources to help them return to work as quickly as possible. Claimants who are selected are required to attend a mandatory appointment at their nearest Idaho Department of Labor office. Labor’s workforce consultants are experts at helping people find work by providing:
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Nov. 21, 2023
Media Contact: Kandi.Rudd@labor.idaho.gov
Idaho businesses and employers are invited to learn about unemployment insurance (UI) tax compliance from the Idaho Department of Labor during a free Zoom seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 29 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. (MDT).