Idaho’s unemployment rate for July fell to 3 percent – its lowest level since mid-2008.
At the same time, Gem State businesses led the nation in over-the-month job growth at 6-tenths of a percent.
July’s decrease in the jobless rate was due to the combined effect of people exiting and entering the workforce, and the number of unemployed dropping. Nonfarm jobs grew by 4,300, and eight of the state’s 11 industry sectors shared the increase. Trade, transportation, and utilities added the most jobs in July, while leisure and hospitality jobs grew the highest rate. Year-over-year, education and health care services grew the fastest, while strong job gains also occurred in construction, information, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality.
The state’s labor force participation rate — the percentage of people 16 years and older with jobs or looking for work — has steadily declined since February of this year, dropping to 63 percent, the lowest rate since May of 1976.
July unemployment in each of Nez Perce and Latah counties was 2.5 percent; Idaho County 4.6 percent; Clearwater County 6.2 percent, and Lewis County had the highest rate in the state at 6.4 percent. (Idaho Department of Labor)
