Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point between January and February, down to 3.7%.
February’s labor force increased by 433 people to 1,012,372 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years of age or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.1 percentage point between January and February, down to 63.8%.
Total employment increased by 797 (0.1%) to 974,409 as unemployment decreased by 364 (0.9%) to 37,963.
Idaho’s nonfarm jobs had a net increase of only 100 jobs for a total of 878,100 in February. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains included accommodation and food services (2.3%); arts, entertainment and recreation (1.3%); private educational services (1.2%); management of companies and enterprises (1.1%); professional, scientific and technical services (1.1%); durable goods manufacturing (0.9%); real estate and rental and leasing (0.8%); local government (0.6%) and transportation, warehousing and utilities (0.6%).
Industries that experienced job declines in February included state government (-5%), natural resources (-2.3%), other services (-2%), information (-1.1%), construction (-0.9%), federal government (-0.7%), nondurable goods manufacturing (-0.6%), health care and social services (-0.5%) and retail trade (-0.2%).
Four of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job increases in February. Twin Falls saw the largest increase of 0.6%, followed by Idaho Falls (0.5%), Pocatello (0.5%) and Boise (0.1%). Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston both saw a decrease of 0.3%.
Year over Year
Idaho’s 3.7% unemployment rate for February 2025 was up from 3.5% the prior year. The labor force was up 2%, an increase of 20,016 people.
The number of unemployed Idahoans increased 10.3% (3,556) while total employed was 1.7% (16,460) higher over the same period.
Total nonfarm jobs increased by 2.7% (22,800). Most major industry sectors gained jobs except administrative, support, and waste management services (-5.4%); information (-2.2%) and state government (-1.6%).
All but one of Idaho’s MSAs saw year-over-year nonfarm job gains in February. Boise had the greatest increase at 3.4%, followed by Coeur d’Alene (3%), Twin Falls (3%), Idaho Falls (2.7%), and Pocatello (1.7%). Lewiston experienced the only decrease at 0.7%
National Comparisons
Nationally, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage point between January and February, up to 4.1%. The number of unemployed increased by 203,000 (3%) to 7.1 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 (0.1%) to 159.2 million.
