Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 3.8%.
December 2024’s unemployment rate also remained the same at 3.8% after the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) annual benchmarking process. (More information about the benchmarking process can be found below.)
January’s labor force increased by 2,168 people (0.2%) to 1,011,937 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – was unchanged between December and January, remaining at 63.9%.
Total employment increased by 2,172 (0.2%) to 973,605 as unemployment remained effectively unchanged at 38,332.
Idaho’s nonfarm jobs increased by 1,700 (0.2%) to 878,600 in January. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains included construction (4%); professional, scientific, and technical services (1.3%); health care and social services (1.2%); information (1.1%); management of companies and enterprises (1.1%); state government (0.9%); federal government (0.7%) and arts, entertainment, and recreation (0.6%).
Industries that experienced job declines in January included accommodation and food services (-2.8%); private educational services (-2.3%); natural resources (-2.2%); administrative, support, and waste management services (-2.1%); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-0.9%); wholesale trade (-0.6%) and local government (-0.2%).
Five of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job increases in January. Lewiston saw the largest increase of 0.7%, followed by Idaho Falls (0.4%), Coeur d’Alene (0.3%), Boise (0.2%) and Pocatello (0.2%). Twin Falls saw a decrease of 0.2%.
Year over Year
Idaho’s 3.8% unemployment rate for January 2025 was up from 3.4% the prior year. The labor force was up 2.2%, an increase of 21,396 people.
The number of unemployed Idahoans increased 12.2% (4,181) while total employed was 1.8% (17,215) higher over the same period.
Total nonfarm jobs increased by 2.8% (23,700), which was the highest percentage increase among all states. Most major industry sectors gained jobs except administrative, support, and waste management services (-6.9%); information (-1.1%) and local government (-0.4%).
All of Idaho’s MSAs saw year-over-year nonfarm job gains in January. Coeur d’Alene had the greatest increase at 3.9%, followed by Boise (3.8%), Twin Falls (2.8%), Idaho Falls (2.7%), Lewiston (0.7%) and Pocatello (0.5%).
National Comparisons
Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 between December and January, down to 4%. The number of unemployed decreased by 37,000 (-0.5%) to 6.8 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 (0.1%) to 159.1 million.
