Idaho Department of Labor
09/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2025 08:30
Learn how Idaho’s cost of living and affordability impact the labor force
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Sept. 23, 2025
Media Contact: [email protected]
Idaho Department of Labor Economist Seth Harrington will share how Idaho's cost of living is impacting the labor force at a webinar, Tuesday, Sept. 30.
According to United for Alice, four in 10 Idaho households can't afford the basics of housing, food, child care and health care - even though many earn above the poverty line.
"While Idaho's poverty rate is the 15th lowest in the nation and unemployment remains low, many Idahoans continue to struggle with the rising cost of living," Harrington said. "Poverty and the rising costs of living have had significant impacts on the labor force, from reduced labor mobility to growing the urban and rural divide."
The webinar takes place from 11 a.m. to noon MT over Zoom.
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This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY26 as part of a Workforce Information grant (41%) and state/nonfederal funds (59%) totaling $860,595.
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