Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged between July and August, staying at 3.7%.
August’s labor force decreased by 627 (0.1%) people to 1,009,419 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.1 percentage point between July and August, down to 63.1%.
Total employment decreased by 778 (-0.1%) to 972,377 and unemployment increased by 151 (0.4%) to 37,042.
Idaho’s nonfarm jobs had a net increase of 200 jobs for a total of 881,900 in August. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains included accommodation and food services (1.7%), management of companies and enterprises (1.1%), private educational services (0.6%), nondurable goods manufacturing (0.6%) and retail trade (0.5%).
Industries that experienced job losses in August included natural resources (-2.2%); federal government (-1.5%); administrative, support and waste management services (-1.1%); real estate and rental and leasing (-0.8%); arts, entertainment and recreation (-0.6%); construction (-0.6%); finance and insurance (-0.6%); durable goods manufacturing (-0.5%); professional, scientific and technical services (-0.5%); state government (-0.3%) and wholesale trade (-0.3%).
Five of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job increases in August. Lewiston had the largest increase of 0.7%, followed by Idaho Falls (0.6%), Pocatello (0.5%), Boise (0.2%) and Coeur d’Alene (0.1%). Twin Falls experienced no change.
Year over Year
Idaho’s 3.7% unemployment rate for August 2025 was the same as in 2024. The labor force grew 0.2% (2,173), as the number of employed Idahoans increased by 2,838 (0.3%). The number of unemployed Idahoans decreased by 665 (-1.8%).
Total nonfarm jobs increased by 1.5% (12,900). Most major industry sectors gained jobs except federal government (-6.9%); state government (-6.6%); wholesale trade (-5.2%); administrative, support and waste management services (-2.1%) and healthcare and social services (-0.5%).
All but one of Idaho’s MSAs had year-over-year nonfarm job gains in August. Pocatello had the greatest increase at 2.7%, followed by Coeur d’Alene (2.6%), Boise (2.3%), Idaho Falls (1.7%) and Twin Falls (1.4%). Lewiston experienced no noticeable change.
National Comparisons
Nationally, the unemployment rate increased between July and August, up to 4.3%. The number of unemployed increased by 148,000 (2%) to 7.4 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 22,000 to 159.5 million.
