Unemployment remains unmoved in state

Despite the ever-fluctuating job market, Idaho’s unemployment rate has remained steady since September of 2023.

The Idaho Department of Labor reported the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3% in May, the same as it was eight months prior.

According to the department, the labor force increased 0.2% or 1,679 people, bringing the total to 975,713. The labor force participation rate, meaning the percentage of people 16 years and older who are working or looking for work, stayed at 62.7% between April and May.

Employment numbers rose 0.1% to 943,123, while unemployment also increased by 1% to 32,590.

“Idaho’s nonfarm jobs increased by 7,600 (0.9%) to 871,000 in May the largest percentage change among all states,” the department reported. “Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month increases included arts, entertainment and recreation (10.4%); transportation, warehousing and utilities (3%); private educational services (2.9%); state government (1.5%); wholesale trade (1.4%); professional and business services (1.2%); durable goods manufacturing (0.9%); health care and social services (0.9%); real estate rental and leasing (0.9%); and construction (0.7%).”

The natural resources industry experienced job losses of -2.3%, while the information industry experienced -2.1% in employment. The Federal government within the state saw -1.4% in job losses.

Lewiston and Pocatello saw the largest uptick in nonfarm job increases at 1% each. Boise saw a 0.9% increase, while Twin Falls experienced -0.4% in employment.

In May of last year, unemployment was at 2.9%. In the 12 months, unemployment rose by 4,317 people while the number of employed people rose to 11,941.

On the national level, unemployment rose to 4% from 3.9% between April and May. The total number of unemployed people in the country is at 6.6 million, while employment is at 158.5 million people.

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