BOISE, Idaho — The Gem State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3% in February – unchanged from January, and up from 2.9% in February 2023 – the Idaho Department of Labor said Friday. The rate has held at 3.3% since November 2023.
Data from the labor department shows total employment increased by 1,446 from January, totaling 937,072 Idahoans in February. Unemployment also increased by 0.4% – or 135 people – to a total of 32,399.
The national unemployment rate remains higher than Idaho. It reached 3.9% in February, up from 3.7% from the month prior, according to Friday's news release. 6.5 million people are unemployed nationwide, an increase of 334,000 from January.
Idaho's labor force totaled 969,471 people last month, increasing by 1,581 (0.2%) from January. The state's labor force was also up by 16,394 people (1.7%) from one year ago.
The unemployment rate of 3.3% wasn't the only thing to go unchanged in the Gem State between January and February. Idaho's labor force participation rate remained at 62.6%. The rate identifies the percentage of Idahoans aged 16 or older who are employed or looking for work.
According to the Idaho Department of Labor, nonfarm jobs hit 862,100 in February, an increase of 4,000 from January. Boise, Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls saw over-the-month nonfarm job increases. Total nonfarm jobs grew by 2.8% from February 2023.
Real estate and rental and leasing (-0.8%), and finance and insurance (-0.7%), were two industries to see job declines in February.
Industry sectors with the largest increase from January to February are listed below:
- Durable goods manufacturing (2.8%)
- Natural resources (2.3%)
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities (1.8%)
- Nondurable goods manufacturing (1.5%)
- Wholesale trade (1.4%)
- Private educational services (1.2%)
- Federal government (0.7%)
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation (0.6%)
For additional February employment data from the Idaho Department of Labor, click here.
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