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Idaho’s unemployment rate increases to 3.7% in July
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased between June and July, from 3.6% to 3.7%.
July’s labor force decreased by 451 people to 1,010,133 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between June and July, down to 63.2%.


Idaho rural profile labor market webinar
The department’s Labor Market Research Manager Craig Shaul and Labor Economists Jan Roeser and Seth Harrington discuss changes over the past 20 years in the state’s rural demographics.

Idaho Employment Newsletter
Read articles about the Idaho economy in our newsletter, Idaho Employment News.

Idaho’s small arms market anticipates more growth
In the 20 years following the end of the federal assault weapons ban in 2004, the employment growth rate of Idaho’s small arms manufacturing industry nearly tripled — greatly outpacing the nation’s rate of 60%. While the small arms market is currently experiencing a slowdown both nationally and in Idaho, new developments in 2025 regulations and legal cases might be the key to upcoming growth.