Idaho’s December unemployment rate decreases to 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 23, 2026
Media Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased between November and December, from 3.7% to 3.6%.

December's labor force increased by 1,628 (0.2%) people to 1,013,141 while the labor force participation rate - the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work - was unchanged between November and December, remaining at 62.9%.

Total employment increased by 1,755 (0.2%) to 976,258 and unemployment decreased by 127 (-0.3%) to 36,883.

Idaho's nonfarm jobs had a net increase of 300 jobs for a total of 885,900 in December. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains included professional, scientific and technical services (1.4%); construction (1.3%); private educational services (1.2%); transportation, warehousing and utilities (1.2%); administrative, support and waste management services; health care and social services; and other services, each at 0.6%.

Industries that experienced job losses in December included arts, entertainment and recreation (-2.5%); accommodation and food services (-1.6%); finance and insurance (-1.6%); nondurable goods manufacturing (-0.9%); real estate and rental and leasing (-0.8%); wholesale trade (-0.6%); state government (-0.3%) and durable goods manufacturing (-0.2%).

Two of Idaho's six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job increases in December. Lewiston saw the largest increase at 0.3%, followed by Boise at 0.2%. Twin Falls and Coeur d'Alene saw decreases (-0.4% and -0.1%, respectively). Idaho Falls and Pocatello experienced no change.

Year over Year

Idaho's 3.6% unemployment rate for December 2025 was down from 3.8% in 2024. The labor force grew 0.3% (3,372), as the number of employed Idahoans increased by 4,825 (0.5%). The number of unemployed Idahoans decreased by 1,453 (-3.8%).

Total nonfarm jobs increased by 1.0% (9,000). Most major industry sectors gained jobs except wholesale trade (-7.2%); federal government (-6.9%); state government (-4.4%); nondurable goods manufacturing (-2.7%); natural resources (-2.2%); finance and insurance (-1.6%); real estate and rental and leasing (-0.8%); arts, entertainment and recreation (-0.6%) and retail trade (-0.5%).

All but two of Idaho's MSAs had year-over-year nonfarm job gains in December. Coeur d'Alene had the greatest increase at 2.0%, followed by Boise (1.1%), Idaho Falls (0.5%) and Twin Falls (0.2%). Lewiston and Pocatello experienced no noticeable change.

National Comparisons

Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased between November and December, down to 4.4%. The number of unemployed decreased by 278,000 (-3.6%) to 7.5 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 50,000 to 159.5 million.

* Editors / News Directors - please note:

February, March and April will have nonstandard release dates due to the annual Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarking process. Benchmarking includes revisions to state labor force estimates based on new inputs and population data. Nonfarm jobs are benchmarked using reported employer data. The schedule for future releases has not been set.

More Idaho labor market information can be found at lmi.idaho.gov.

This project is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an Employment and Training Administration award totaling $714,542.

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