Idaho Department of Labor

01/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/24/2025 10:49

Idaho’s December unemployment rate increases to 3.8%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 24, 2025
Media Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

- Idaho's seasonally adjusted labor force over one million for first time -

Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8% in December, up from 3.7% in November.

The state's labor force increased by 4,108 people (0.4%) to 1,000,658 while the labor force participation rate - the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work - increased from 63.4% to 63.6% between November and December.

This is the first time Idaho's seasonally adjusted labor force has had over one million participants in the state's history.

Total employment increased by 3,503 (0.4%) to 962,943 as unemployment increased by 605 (1.6%) to 37,715.

Idaho's nonfarm jobs increased by 3,000 (0.3%) to 886,600. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month increases included accommodation and food services (1.7%); private educational services (1.1%); state government (1.1%); other services (0.7%); arts, entertainment, and recreation (0.6%); nondurable goods manufacturing (0.6%); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (0.6%).

Industries that experienced job losses in December included information (-1.1%), durable goods manufacturing (-0.4%), finance and insurance (-0.3%), and local government (-0.1%).

Five of Idaho's six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job increases in December. Twin Falls experienced the largest increase at 0.6%, followed by Idaho Falls (0.4%), Boise (0.3%), Coeur d'Alene (0.3%) and Lewiston (0.3%). Pocatello saw no change.

Year over Year

Idaho's 3.8% unemployment rate for December 2024 was up from 3.3% the prior year. The labor force was up 3.4%, an increase of 33,342 people.

The number of unemployed Idahoans increased 17.5% (5,625) while the total number of employed increased 3% (27,717).

Total nonfarm jobs increased by 3.6% (31,100), which was the highest percentage increase among all states. Most major industry sectors gained jobs except information (-8.5%); natural resources (-4.7%); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1.8%).

All of Idaho's MSAs saw year-over-year nonfarm job gains in December. Boise had the greatest increase at 4.6%, followed by Idaho Falls (3.7%), Pocatello (3.5%), Twin Falls (2.4%), Lewiston (2.3%) and Coeur d'Alene (0.9%).

National Comparisons

Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased between November and December, down from 4.2% to 4.1%. The number of unemployed decreased by 235,000 to 6.9 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 256,000 to 159.5 million.

-end-

* Editors / News Directors - please note:
February and March will have nonstandard release dates due to the annual Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarking process. Benchmarking includes revisions to state labor force estimates based on new inputs and population data. Nonfarm jobs are benchmarked using reported employer data.

Upcoming Idaho Release Schedule:
March 17, 2025: Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for January 2025
March 28, 2025: Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for February 2025

Find more labor market information at lmi.idaho.gov

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information Grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.