Idaho boasts fastest job growth in U.S.

Idaho is claiming the fastest over-the-year job growth in the United States.

The Idaho Department of Labor reports 27,500 jobs were created between January, 2016 and January, 2017. The 4 percent growth rate is the fastest in the country. According to reports, all of Idaho’s major industrial sectors enjoyed job gains. There were 4,500 new construction jobs, up 11.3 percent. Financial activities were up 6 percent, with 2,000 new jobs and other service jobs grew by 1,300 or 5.5 percent. January’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.6 percent, the same as December. Unemployment insurance benefit payments were up nearly 21 percent to $3.7 million in January. Month to month, the Idaho Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area was the fastest growing over the year with .8 percent growth. That equates to 500 new jobs.