Regional news

Regional labor market information

• Labor force estimates for August 2025 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics have total over-the-month employment increasing, but unemployment increasing in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, August preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 2,460 people, with 2,207 more employed people and 253 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region increased by a 0.1 percentage point to 3.5% over the month and 0.2 percentage points more than August 2024.

Figure 1.

Eastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data	Aug-25 (P)	Jul-25 (P)	Aug-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

• There were an estimated 4,587 deduplicated job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for August 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 11.4% decrease from 3,325 the prior month, but a 38% increase year over year.

• The top five regional occupations by unique job postings did not change over the month. General maintenance and repair workers replaced driver sales workers in the top occupations by quantity of job postings for August. Employer hiring demand, based on quantity of job postings, increased 7% for registered nurses and18% for customer service representatives. Hiring demand decreased for all other occupations.

Figure 2.

Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, August 2025	Postings
Registered nurses	290
Retail salespersons	167
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	112
Customer service representatives	104
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	86
Personal care aides	76
Radiologic technologists and technicians	70
Merchandise displayers and window trimmers	69
General maintenance and repair workers	60
Hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers	59
Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast

• Educational services was new to the top five regional industries by quantity of job postings for August.

• Hiring demand based on total unique job postings decreased over the month in all of the top industries, including 10% in administrative support, waste management and remediation, 13% in accommodation and food services, 14% in construction, 18% in finance and insurance, 19% in manufacturing and 20% in professional, scientific and technical services.

Figure 3.

Top industries by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, August 2025	Postings
Health care and social assistance	725
Retail trade	566
Administrative, support waste management and remediation services	497
Professional, scientific and technical services	307
Educational services	265
Manufacturing	247
Wholesale trade	244
Accommodation and food services	202
Construction	184
Finance and insurance	136
Real estate, rental and leasing	96
Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast

• Hardest-to-fill occupations in the eastern Idaho region for August, by highest median job posting duration and multiple unique job postings, included retail salespersons, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and merchandise displayers.

• Hardest-to-fill job posting challenges in August by occupational family were sales and related and building and grounds cleaning maintenance. All occupations added to the hardest-to-fill jobs list in August were new, except janitors and cleaners.

Figure 4.

Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, August 2025	Days to fill	Postings
Merchandise displayers and window trimmers	39	69
Retail salespersons	38	167
Driver sales workers	38	50
Bakers	36	25
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	35	28
Sales representatives of services	34	41
Teaching assistants	34	33
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	33	112
Janitors and cleaners	33	46
Licensed practical and vocational nurses	32	31
Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast

Regional news

• A private Texas firm, Aalo Atomics, broke ground on Aalo-X, a pilot project of an experimental extra modular nuclear reactor inside the Materials and Fuels Complex at Idaho National Laboratory. It will reportedly be the world’s first co-located and co-built nuclear plant and data center once completed in July 2026. Aalo Atomics plans to deploy factories internationally to produce several gigawatts of electrical capacity for nuclear and artificial intelligence projects. Source: Idaho National Laboratory

• Yellowstone National Park hosted 882,000 recreation visits in August, a 2% increase year over year. Visits have decreased 4% from August 2021, the record-breaking year of over 4.8 million visitors. Year-to-date visits increased 3% year over year. Source: Yellowstone National Park

• The Center for Advanced Energy Studies , a consortium that includes Idaho National Laboratory and state universities, is rebranding its facility in Idaho Falls. It will now be known as the Critical Materials and Energy Systems Innovation Center. Source: Idaho Education News

Bonneville County

• A new medical clinic, ENT Specialists of Idaho, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Department of Labor

• A new clothing and accessory retailer, Burlington, is opening in Idaho Falls. There are 1,100 stores nationwide. Source: East Idaho News

• A new spa opened in Idaho Falls, PLUNJ, which offers a Nordic-style sauna and cold plunge. Source: East Idaho News

• A new pre-school, Curious Roots Learning Academy, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News

• Cozy Subs restaurant opened in Ririe. Source: East Idaho News

• Happy Teriyaki restaurant opened in Ammon. Source: The Idaho Department of Labor

• Amada Senior Care, which provides non-medical assistance to homebound seniors, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News

• Boise-based Alliance Title & Escrow is expanding to Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Business Review

• Heise Hot Springs year-round resort in Ririe saw record breaking numbers of visitors this summer at 600-800 per day. Renovations and upgrades to the summer pool, waterslide, hot pool and dressing rooms were attributed to the record draw. Source: KIFI

• The Bonneville County Board of Commissioners will conclude its lease agreement with the Idaho Innovation Center, effective September 2026. The center has been dedicated to fostering regionwide business innovation and entrepreneurship since 1988. Source: KIFI

• The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and/or groundbreaking ceremonies at Amada Senior Care, Hamlett Homes, Soiled Dove speakeasy, Idaho Falls Chukars, Sprague Pest Solutions, Summit Funding 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

Custer County

• A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the expansion and remodeling project completion at Stanley School. Source: Challis Messenger

Fremont County

• A new creative space for artists to showcase their talents, Warm River Studio, opened in Ashton. Source: East Idaho News

Jefferson County

• The Idaho Transportation Department awarded the city of Ririe $465,000 to complete the first phase of improvements on the US 26B intersection and pedestrian safety across the intersection. Source: Jefferson Star

• The City of Roberts opened their new basketball and pickle ball courts at Mustang Park. Source: Jefferson Star

Lemhi County

• After five years, the Salmon Hockey Association’s newly refurbished ice rink was completed. The $1 million project was funded through grants and fundraising efforts. Source: East Idaho News

Madison County

• Grand Teton Gun and Range opened in Rexburg at the former Madison Armory. National firearm industry representatives were on-hand for the grand opening. Source: East Idaho News

• Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-I) reported a record 6,500 new students for the 2025 fall semester, an 18% increase from last fall. This is the second straight year the school has set a record for new students, including transfers. BYU-I’s total enrollment this semester is approximately 25,000 students. Source: BYU-I

• Rexburg Chamber of Commerce announced ground breakings and ribbon cuttings for Styles & Smiles Family Salon. Source: Rexburg Chamber of Commerce

Teton County

• The city of Victor approved the first phase of Twin Slides, a subdivision of up to 100 starter homes. Source: Jackson Hole News & Guide

• The Teton County Board of Commissioners eliminated county funding for the Teton Regional Economic Coalition. In recent past, funds have paid for an economic development director, tourism marketing and coordination of officials, businesses and nonprofits during crises. Source: Jackson Hole News & Guide

• Approximately 160 acres of state endowment land in Driggs, leased for ranching, is to be auctioned off and sold for $1.4 million as voted on by the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners. Source: Idaho Capital Sun

Eastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – August 2024 and August 2025

• Home prices in August fluctuated among counties in the eastern region. Bonneville County’s prices declined over the year as the supply of listed homes increased 26%. Regionwide there are 88 more homes listed than this time last year. Also, homes are sitting on the market nine more days, on average, than last August. The most improved residential real estate market in the region over the year is Jefferson County, with 24% more active listings and 47% more homes under contract.

Figure 5.

Median price sold	Aug-25	Aug-24	Change
Bonneville	$460,000	$470,000	-2.1%
Butte	$280,000	$245,000	14.3%
Clark	$322,000	$240,000	34.2%
Custer	$620,000	$535,000	15.9%
Fremont	$790,000	$677,300	16.6%
Jefferson	$550,000	$525,000	4.8%
Lemhi	$539,500	$612,000	-11.8%
Madison	$467,700	$399,900	17.0%
Teton	$950,000	$881,800	7.7%
Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics

Figure 6.

Active listings (inventory)	Aug-25	Aug-24	Change
Bonneville	491	390	25.9%
Butte	21	15	40.0%
Clark	2	1	100.0%
Custer	44	45	-2.2%
Fremont	161	165	-2.4%
Jefferson	126	102	23.5%
Lemhi	76	57	33.3%
Madison	128	112	14.3%
Teton	202	158	27.8%
Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics

Figure 7.

Median days on market	Aug-25	Aug-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

Figure 8.

Total homes pending sale	Aug-25	Aug-24	Change
Bonneville	191	187	2.1%
Butte	4	6	-33.3%
Clark	N/A	2	N/A
Custer	12	5	140.0%
Fremont	21	36	-41.7%
Jefferson	47	32	46.9%
Lemhi	10	9	11.1%
Madison	40	30	33.3%
Teton	47	68	-30.9%
Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics

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This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY26 as part of the Workforce Information grant (41%) and state/nonfederal funds (59%) totaling $860,595.

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