Tag Archives: Unemployment rate

Idaho’s September unemployment rate remains at 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 16, 2026
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 3.6%.

September’s labor force decreased by 508 (-0.1%) people to 997,822 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 to 61.4%.

Total employment decreased by 585 (-0.1%) to 961,587 and unemployment increased by 77 (0.2%) to 36,235.

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Idaho’s August unemployment rate remains at 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 18, 2026
Media Contact: John.Panter@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between July and August, staying at 3.6%.

August’s labor force decreased by 486 people to 998,378 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 July and August to 61.5%.

Total employment decreased by 410 to 962,214 and unemployment decreased by 76 (-0.2%) to 36,164. Continue reading →

Idaho’s July unemployment rate decreases to 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 21, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased between June and July, from 3.7% to 3.6%.

July’s labor force decreased by 1,523 (-0.2%) people to 998,870 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between June and July to 61.6%.

Total employment decreased by 1,007 (-0.1%) to 962,626 and unemployment decreased by 516 (-1.4%) to 36,244. Continue reading →

Idaho’s June unemployment rate remains at 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 17, 2026
Media Contact: William.Winkle@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

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

June’s labor force decreased by 1,913 (-0.2%) people to 1,000,382 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between May and June to 61.8%.

Total employment decreased by 2,028 (-0.2%) to 963,614 and unemployment increased by 115 (0.3%) to 36,768. Continue reading →

Idaho’s May unemployment rate increases to 3.7%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased between April and May, from 3.6% to 3.7%.

May’s labor force decreased by 1,203 (-0.1%) people to 1,002,324 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between April and May, down to 62.0%.

Total employment decreased by 1,349 (-0.1%) to 965,666 and unemployment increased by 146 (0.4%) to 36,658. Continue reading →

Idaho’s labor market outlook for recent college graduates stays cautiously optimistic

The transition from college to career has always been a pivotal life moment, but in the current labor market, that transition is becoming more of a challenge, as structural shifts and slowdowns in white-collar industries may affect early career pathways.

While both the U.S. and Idaho labor markets have cooled from the post-pandemic boom of 2022, the national labor market has slowed substantially, especially compared with Idaho’s labor market. Idaho’s percentage growth in average hourly wages and nonfarm employment almost doubled the nation from 2022 to 2025.

Idaho’s labor market indicators show the state is still experiencing growth, while the national indicators show declining demand for labor and lower wage gains. As a result, Idaho’s labor market is better equipped to handle these headwinds than the more anemic national economy.

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Idaho’s April unemployment rate remains at 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate did not change between March and April, remaining at 3.6%.

April’s labor force decreased by 2,350 (-0.2%) people to 1,003,496 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between March and April, down to 62.2%.

Total employment decreased by 2,290 (-0.2%) to 966,979 and unemployment decreased by 60 (-0.2%) to 36,517. Continue reading →

Idaho’s March unemployment rate decreases to 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 4, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased between February and March, from 3.7% to 3.6%.

March’s labor force decreased by 2,286 (-0.2%) people to 1,005,848 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.3 percentage points between February and March, down to 62.4%.

Total employment decreased by 1,921 (-0.2%) to 969,265 and unemployment decreased by 365 (-1.0%) to 36,583. 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 →

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.