Dept. of Labor: Strong job market in eastern Idaho

The Idaho Department of Labor said the job market is stronger and the unemployment rate is dropping in the state. The unemployment rate in Idaho dropped to 4.7 percent in August. The Department of Labor said the rate shows the state is continuing its nearly four-year downward trend in unemployment rates. In August alone, Idaho added about 1,500 new jobs. The Department of Labor said the jobs are not in a particular field because there is growth across the board.Temp agencies like BBSI in Idaho Falls said it is seeing an uptick in the need for its services.

“There is a lot more building going on then there has been in the last few years. Framers, plumbers and electricians, those people all seem to be looking for people right now,” said Jeremy Hix, area manager at BBSI.

The company is also seeing an increase in office, accounting and healthcare jobs.

“Companies in eastern Idaho get put into this category of lower wages and production type jobs, but the reality is if people will go in and do a good job there is a great opportunity for people to move up in those organizations,” Hix said.

Department of Labor Economist, Chris St. Jeor said the unemployment rate is decreasing because of business expansion and minimal layoffs.

“When that unemployment rate drops, businesses need to start paying a little bit more in order to entice more people to come back to work. We start to see those wages increase,” said St. Jeor.

Bannock County’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent, while Bonneville County has a 4 percent unemployment rate.

The last time the unemployment rate increased was last July. It was the first increase since the spring of 2010.