Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed steady at 2.9 percent in May, continuing a nine-month streak of 3 percent or lower.
The state’s labor force – the total number of people 16 years of age and older working or looking for work – continued to increase, gaining 1,222 people from April to May for a total of 850,605.
Total employment grew 1,203 to 826,026 in May, driving the increase of the state’s labor force growth, while the number of unemployed remained virtually unchanged at 24,579.
Idaho’s monthly total nonfarm job growth remained virtually flat in May with an increase of 400 jobs. Five industry sectors – professional and business services, manufacturing, financial activities, information, and leisure and hospitality – all exceeded seasonal expectations and offset a 2,200 job decrease in five other sectors – education and health services, construction, government, other services, and trade, transportation and utilities. Natural resource jobs remained unchanged.
Nez Perce county’s unemployment rate in May was 2.6 percent; Latah County 2.4 percent; Idaho County was 4.8 percent; Lewis County reported 5.1 percent and Clearwater County reported a May unemployment rate of 6.6 percent. (Idaho Department of Labor)
