Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased between November and December, from 3.7% to 3.6%.
December’s labor force increased by 1,628 (0.2%) people to 1,013,141 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – was unchanged between November and December, remaining at 62.9%.
Total employment increased by 1,755 (0.2%) to 976,258 and unemployment decreased by 127 (-0.3%) to 36,883.
Idaho’s nonfarm jobs had a net increase of 300 jobs for a total of 885,900 in December. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains included professional, scientific and technical services (1.4%); construction (1.3%); private educational services (1.2%); transportation, warehousing and utilities (1.2%); administrative, support and waste management services; health care and social services; and other services, each at 0.6%.
Industries that experienced job losses in December included arts, entertainment and recreation (-2.5%); accommodation and food services (-1.6%); finance and insurance (-1.6%); nondurable goods manufacturing (-0.9%); real estate and rental and leasing (-0.8%); wholesale trade (-0.6%); state government (-0.3%) and durable goods manufacturing (-0.2%).
Two of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job increases in December. Lewiston saw the largest increase at 0.3%, followed by Boise at 0.2%. Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene saw decreases (-0.4% and -0.1%, respectively). Idaho Falls and Pocatello experienced no change.
Year over Year
Idaho’s 3.6% unemployment rate for December 2025 was down from 3.8% in 2024. The labor force grew 0.3% (3,372), as the number of employed Idahoans increased by 4,825 (0.5%). The number of unemployed Idahoans decreased by 1,453 (-3.8%).
Total nonfarm jobs increased by 1.0% (9,000). Most major industry sectors gained jobs except wholesale trade (-7.2%); federal government (-6.9%); state government (-4.4%); nondurable goods manufacturing (-2.7%); natural resources (-2.2%); finance and insurance (-1.6%); real estate and rental and leasing (-0.8%); arts, entertainment and recreation (-0.6%) and retail trade (-0.5%).
All but two of Idaho’s MSAs had year-over-year nonfarm job gains in December. Coeur d’Alene had the greatest increase at 2.0%, followed by Boise (1.1%), Idaho Falls (0.5%) and Twin Falls (0.2%). Lewiston and Pocatello experienced no noticeable change.
National Comparisons
Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased between November and December, down to 4.4%. The number of unemployed decreased by 278,000 (-3.6%) to 7.5 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 50,000 to 159.5 million.
