Idaho Unemployment Rate Decreases to 3.7% in December

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – After holding steady for five consecutive months, Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped in December.

The rate dropped from 3.8 to 3.7 percent.

According to the Idaho Department of Labor, employment increased by 300 to 784,200, while the state’s labor force decreased by 200, pushing the number of unemployed Idahoans down by 500 people to 30,000.

Month-to-month, Idaho’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 500 jobs to 700,700. Gains in manufacturing, financial activities, professional and business services and other services were offset and slightly exceeded by the number of jobs lost in natural resources, construction, and trade and transportation.

Year-over-year, Idaho’s total nonfarm job growth for December showed a net gain of 13,300, or 1.9 percent, with all sectors except natural resources showing gains.

Nationally, the unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a point to 4.7 percent.

Idaho’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64 percent while nationally, the rate increased slightly to 62.7 percent.

Idaho’s 2016 average annual unemployment rate and labor force data will be released by the department on Feb. 28.