Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for July 2025 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had total over-the-month employment marginally decreasing and unemployment increasing in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, July preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 38 people, with 175 fewer employed people and 213 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region increased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.4% over the month and was the same as July 2024.
| Eastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Jul-25 (P) | Jun-25 (P) | Jul-24 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 132,006 | 131,968 | 135,732 |
| Total employment | 127,510 | 127,685 | 131,168 |
| Unemployment | 4,496 | 4,283 | 4,564 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked Source: Idaho Department of Labor |
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- There were an estimated 5,177 deduplicated job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for July 2025, according to The Conference Board: Help Wanted Online. (This is regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data.) The postings are a 30.7% increase from 3,961 the prior month and an 84.5% increase year over year.
- Customer service representatives replaced hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers in the top five of unique job postings in the region for July. Driver sales workers were new to the top occupations by quantity of job postings in July. Employer hiring demand, based on quantity of job postings, increased 72% for registered nurses, 42% for customer service representatives, 35% for personal care aides, 31% for retail sales supervisors and 20% for merchandise displayers and window trimmers. Hiring demand decreased 9% for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, July 2025 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 270 |
| Retail salespersons | 174 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 126 |
| First-line supervisors of retail service workers | 93 |
| Customer service representatives | 88 |
| Personal care aides | 85 |
| Hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers | 83 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | 80 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 78 |
| Driver sales workers | 61 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- Retail trade replaced wholesale trade in the top five regional industries by quantity of job postings for July.
- Hiring demand based on total unique job postings increased over the month in the following industries: 57% in finance and insurance, 53% in accommodation and food services, 49% in waste management and remediation administrative support, 40% in the professional, scientific and technical services, 29% in retail trade, 29% in manufacturing and 22% in health care and social assistance. Hiring demand decreased by 6% in wholesale trade.
| Top industries by job unique postings in eastern Idaho, July 2025 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Unclassified | 982 |
| Health care and social assistance | 739 |
| Administrative, support waste management and remediation services | 553 |
| Retail trade | 543 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 383 |
| Manufacturing | 306 |
| Educational services | 280 |
| Wholesale trade | 263 |
| Accommodation and food services | 232 |
| Construction | 214 |
| Finance and insurance | 165 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Hardest-to-fill occupations in the eastern Idaho region for July, by highest median job posting duration and multiple unique job postings, included coaches and scouts, personal care aides, cashiers, janitors and cleaners. Hardest-to-fill job posting challenges in July by occupational family were in food preparation, serving related and educational instruction. All occupations added to the hardest-to-fill jobs list in July were new, except secondary school teachers and general maintenance repair workers.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, July 2025 | Days to fill | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Coaches and scouts | 42 | 40 |
| Sales representatives of wholesale, manufacturing, technical and scientific products | 38 | 32 |
| Waiters and waitresses | 38 | 29 |
| Secondary school teachers | 38 | 26 |
| Accountants and auditors | 37 | 25 |
| Personal care aides | 35 | 85 |
| Cashiers | 35 | 60 |
| Janitors and cleaners | 35 | 53 |
| General maintenance and repair workers | 35 | 48 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 35 | 40 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
Regional news
- The U.S. Department of Energy selected Idaho National Laboratory as one of four sites nationally to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) data center and energy generation projects. Source: U.S. Department of Energy
- College of Eastern Idaho launched a new Associate of Arts in Education degree program starting fall 2025. Elementary or secondary education pathways allow for transfer into four-year teacher education programs to help fill the state’s growing need for educators. Source: College of Eastern Idaho
- Riverbend Media Group added a new radio station in eastern Idaho, Farm County 1260 AM. An affiliate of the Western Ag Network and based in Idaho Falls, the station is being utilized to inform farmers and ranchers. The station includes country music, informational broadcasts about markets, as well as interviews and stories from academia that focus on new agricultural methods and technologies. Source: East Idaho News
- The Idaho Travel Council awarded $1.9 million to Yellowstone Teton Territory to promote tourism marketing. Source: Idaho Travel Council
- Yellowstone National Park hosted over 975,000 recreation visits in July 2025, a decrease of 2% from July 2024, and a 10% decrease from the record-breaking year of 2021. Year to date, the park has hosted nearly 2.7 million visitors, an increase of 1.5% from 2024, but decreased 0.1% from 2021. Source: Yellowstone National Park
Bonneville County
- Mountain View Hospital opened two new outpatient facilities in Idaho Falls, Urology Associates and Mountain View Imaging Center. Source: Post Register
- Chipotle Mexican Grill of Kansas, LLC has leased restaurant space in Idaho Falls to open a new location. Source: Idaho Business Review
- A five-story, 92-unit luxury apartment complex, The Reverie at Taylors Crossing, is being constructed in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- An 87-room Fairfield Inn & Suites is being constructed near downtown Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- American Farmers Network acquired Intermountain Packing LLC, an Idaho Falls beef processing plant, bringing cattle processing, fabrication and processing in-house. Source: KIFI
- GP Tools in Idaho Falls was featured as an international trade success story by the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration for successful expansion and partnerships in Mexico. They are a manufacturer specializing in high-quality pneumatic riveting and insertion tools for aerospace, automotive and sheet metal applications. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Administration
- British Swim School, an international franchise for year-round water safety and swim lessons, is opening in Ammon. Source: East Idaho News
- Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center is constructing a 24-hour free-standing emergency room on the north end of Idaho Falls. The $15 million project entails a fully equipped emergency room with 10 patient exam rooms, a comprehensive lab and imaging services. Source: East Idaho News
- The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and/or groundbreaking ceremonies at Aurum Grove Boutique, Summit Funding Inc. and American Pacific Mortgage. These establishments either opened their doors within the past six months, moved to a new location due to expansion, or have remodeled or expanded their current location. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
Butte County
- An arcade and restaurant, Atomicade Family Fun Center, opened in Arco. Source: East Idaho News
- A used car dealership, boutique store, coffee shop, Mexican restaurant and souvenir shop all also recently opened in Arco. Source: East Idaho News
Custer County
- Idaho Fish and Game awarded $100,000 in grants to conservation and recreation-focused groups around the state, including Mackay High School, which receives $5,000 for aquaculture lab improvements. Source: Idaho Fish and Game
- The Idaho Travel Council awarded a $29,000 grant to Challis Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism marketing. Source: Idaho Travel Council
Fremont County
- Idaho Fish and Game awarded $100,000 in grants to conservation and recreation-focused groups around the state, including Henry’s Fork Foundation in Ashton, which received $20,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Chester Dam access site. Source: Idaho Fish and Game
- Shotgun Bar now has a restaurant in Island Park along the newly completed Yale-Kilgore Road. Source: East Idaho News
- Stanford Field Airport in St. Anthony was awarded a $355,000 state grant, which will be used for a new runway. The airport is primarily used by recreational pilots and crop-dusting aircrafts. The establishment also employs 12 people and generates an economic impact of $2.2 million, according to the Idaho Transportation Department. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
- The Island Park Area Chamber of Commerce raised $15,000 for Friends of Island Park Ambulance to provide critical emergency medical services. Source: Island Park Area Chamber of Commerce
Jefferson County
- Blue Heart Accounting opened in Rigby. Source: East Idaho News
- Better Home Goodbyes, a mobile veterinarian providing end-of-life pet care, opened in Rigby. Source: East Idaho News
- Rigby’s Hot Classic Nights Car Show and Drag Race raised $15,000 for Rigby Senior Citizens Center to help fund their Meals on Wheels program. The organization also donated $1,000 to the Rigby City Library and $5,000 to Central Fire District. Source: Jefferson Star
Lemhi County
- Salmon will soon have two newly constructed campuses for Fernwaters Public Charter School through a $3.5 million loan from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Source: Challis Messenger
- Idaho Fish and Game awarded $100,000 in grants to conservation and recreation-focused groups around the state, including Cast Hope in Salmon, which received $9,600 for fly fishing clinics to underprivileged youth. Source: Idaho Fish and Game
- The Idaho Travel Council awarded a $47,000 grant to Lemhi County Economic Development Association to promote tourism marketing. Source: Idaho Travel Council
Madison County
- United Voices Rising Inc. (UVR), a new nonprofit in Rexburg, opened the UVR Thrift Shoppe. Sales fund women’s mental health treatments. Source: East Idaho News
- Aveo Solar, a rooftop solar company, is opening in Rexburg. Wright Roofing Inc. and a marketing and brand development firm, Signal Relief, will also be housed at the same business complex. Source: East Idaho News
- Creamy Daze, an ice cream vendor, opened at Hemming Village in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Rexburg Chamber of Commerce announced groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings for Hamlet Homes and Creamy Daze. Source: Rexburg Chamber of Commerce
Teton County
- The city of Victor has approved a $150,000 grant match to begin building a skatepark at Sherman Park. Source: Teton Valley News
Eastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – July 2024 and July 2025
- Home prices in the region’s largest populated county, Bonneville, have started to inch downward as the summer has progressed. The price decline may be attributed to a 30% greater supply over the year, with nearly 500 homes on the market. Prices have started to decline in the region’s third largest county, Jefferson, as well. Buyers taking advantage of lower home prices in the Idaho Falls and Rexburg metropolitan areas have resulted in 14% more homes being under contract than a year ago. On the other hand, median home prices have still gone up annually in the region’s most traditionally expensive counties, Fremont and Teton, by 14% and 26%, respectively.
| Median price sold | Jul-25 | Jul-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | $463,000 | $476,000 | -2.7% |
| Butte | $289,900 | $284,500 | 1.9% |
| Clark | $322,000 | $251,000 | 28.3% |
| Custer | $699,700 | $567,400 | 23.3% |
| Fremont | $769,000 | $677,300 | 13.5% |
| Jefferson | $525,000 | $565,000 | -7.1% |
| Lemhi | $512,000 | $637,000 | -19.6% |
| Madison | $465,000 | $429,700 | 8.2% |
| Teton | $942,600 | $749,500 | 25.8% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
| Active listings (inventory) | Jul-25 | Jul-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 480 | 370 | 29.7% |
| Butte | 17 | 16 | 6.3% |
| Clark | 2 | 2 | 0.0% |
| Custer | 49 | 42 | 16.7% |
| Fremont | 146 | 170 | -14.1% |
| Jefferson | 121 | 83 | 45.8% |
| Lemhi | 76 | 52 | 46.2% |
| Madison | 121 | 108 | 12.0% |
| Teton | 201 | 178 | 12.9% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Median days on market | Jul-25 | Jul-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 53 | 44 | 20.5% |
| Butte | 79 | 58 | 36.2% |
| Clark | 127 | 129 | -1.6% |
| Custer | 53 | 70 | -24.3% |
| Fremont | 59 | 62 | -4.8% |
| Jefferson | 58 | 40 | 45.0% |
| Lemhi | 86 | 60 | 43.3% |
| Madison | 56 | 55 | 1.8% |
| Teton | 70 | 42 | 66.7% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Total homes pending sale | Jul-25 | Jul-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 195 | 180 | 8.3% |
| Butte | 6 | 7 | -14.3% |
| Clark | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Custer | 6 | 5 | 20.0% |
| Fremont | 30 | 23 | 30.4% |
| Jefferson | 43 | 39 | 10.3% |
| Lemhi | 5 | 10 | -50.0% |
| Madison | 38 | 24 | 58.3% |
| Teton | 37 | 90 | -58.9% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
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