Idaho’s unemployment still one of the lowest in the nation

The gem state’s unemployment rate is holding strong at 3.6 percent. And Idaho’s job growth is continuing to soar higher than the national average.

Idaho is one of the states leading the nation in unemployment rates for the sixth month in a row at 3.6 percent — while the national average is around 5 percent. The Idaho Department of Labor thinks this is because of the state’s booming industries.

“I think Idaho is a really unique state because each region is very unique… Health care is really big everywhere — up in Kootenai, over here on the east side and in Boise. Then in the Twin Falls area are food processing and dairy and even over here on the east side, we’ve got quite a few of those manufacturing positions,” said Hope Marrow, the regional economist at the Idaho Department of Labor.

That department says 2,1000 people were added to the gem state’s labor force last month — the largest increase the state has seen since 2005. Half of Idaho’s counties have unemployment rates lower than the state’s average; Madison County leads with the lowest rate at 2.2 percent.

“Part of the reason why Madison County’s unemployment rate is so low is because students are not counted in the unemployment rate. So most of the population that makes up Madison County is the students that go to BYU-I,” Marrow said.

Unemployment rates across eastern Idaho counties are pretty low, too.

“Bonneville County is one of the bigger urban counties in the state and we have a really low unemployment rate of 3.1 percent. Butte County is about the same as Bonneville County; we’re looking at about 3.1 percent for February. Clark’s at 3.2 percent. Custer’s anywhere between 4.5 to 5 percent. Fremont and Jefferson counties stay around 3 percent,” Marrow said.

Only six counties in the state have rates above six percent.

Clearwater at 7.5 percent
Shoshone at 7 percent
Adams at 6.4 percent
Lewis at 6.1 percent
Benewah and Lemhi at 6 percent

Speaking of jobs, the Madison Fire Department is looking for paid-call firefighters. Visit http://www.fdmadison.org/dept-info/employment to apply.