Employment
Idaho has a very diverse economy. While the traditional resource-based industries of agriculture, forest products, and mining continue to contribute to the economy, high-tech, tourism, retail trade, healthcare, business, and information services are growth sectors.
Nonagricultural employment in Idaho during the first three-fourths of 2007 posted an increase of 3.2 percent over year-earlier levels – an absolute gain of 17,800 jobs. While this pace of employment gains
was slower than that experienced in Idaho during 2005 and 2006 – 4.0 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively – it
remained well ahead of the national pace of 1.5 percent in the first nine months of 2007.
In the first nine months of 2007 the Boise MSA captured the majority (11,000 jobs) of Idaho’s 17,800 gain in non-ag employment. Through the first nine months of
last year, non-agricultural employment in the Boise MSA increased at a 4.7 percent pace over year-earlier levels. This
pace was over three times the national rate of employment growth in the same period.
Employment rates in Idaho and the Boise MSA remained strong in early 2008.
However, through the second and third quarters of this year, Idaho's
unemployment rate increased, mirroring the increase seen in the national rate.
Idaho's unemployment rate is currently at 5.4 percent, making October 2008 the
85th straight month that Idaho is lower than the national rate
(currently 6.5 percent). Despite the struggling national economy, Idaho and the
Boise MSA remain one of the fastest growing states and metropolitan areas in the nation.
For employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors, contact
the Idaho Department of Labor at 317 W. Main Street, Boise, ID, 83735 or any of the 24 local offices throughout the state. Addresses and phone numbers of these offices are in the directory on the
Idaho Department of Labor website at
http://labor.idaho.gov.
Visit the Boise Valley Economic Partnership website for regional labor
market data.
Additional Employment Information:
View
a list of employment resources from among our membership!