Idaho’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.6 percent in February, while the state continued to lead the nation in over-the-year job growth for the sixth consecutive month.
Month to month nonfarm job growth went unchanged in February from January’s total of 712,900 as seasonal declines in manufacturing and trade, transportation, and utilities offset gains in Idaho’s remaining sectors.
Year over year, Idaho’s nonfarm payroll jobs increased 3.6 percent, or 24-thousand, from the previous February – the fastest rate in the nation. The additional jobs were spread among most of Idaho’s industry sectors with the largest gains of 10.4 percent in construction and 6.3 percent in financial activities.
Manufacturing, along with trade, transportation, and utilities, saw the smallest year-over-year growth at 1.2 percent each.
In February, Nez Perce County’s unemployment rate was 3.1 percent; Latah County 3.1 percent; Clearwater County 7.5 percent; Idaho County 5.5 percent; and Lewis County 6.1 percent. (Idaho Department of Labor)
