Idaho’s labor forced climbed in July, edging the unemployment rate up one-tenth of a percent to 2.9 percent.
An additional 2,800 people made themselves available for work in July, pushing Idaho’s labor force up to 876,000. Idaho’s one-half-of-1 percent nonfarm job growth was the second fastest over-the-month growth rate in the nation.
Nine of Idaho’s 11 industry sectors experienced growth, led by financial activities; information; and trade, transportation, and utilities. Natural resources and construction saw no change to employment levels, meeting seasonal expectations.
Nez Perce County’s unemployment rate for July was 3 percent; Latah County 2.7 percent; Idaho County 4.7 percent; Lewis County 5.1 percent; and Clearwater County 7.5 percent.
Year-over-year, five of Idaho’s industry sectors experienced job gains of three percent or greater – professional and business services; manufacturing; other services; financial activities; and education and health services. (Idaho Department of Labor)
