Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for October 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had total employment and total unemployment increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, October’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 246 people, with 184 more employed people and 62 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6%, a 0.1% increase from September 2024 and 0.3% higher than October 2023.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Oct-24 (P) | Sep-24 (R) | Oct-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 91,325 | 91,079 | 88,516 |
| Total employment | 88,071 | 87,887 | 85,631 |
| Unemployment | 3,254 | 3,192 | 2,885 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In October 2024 there were 622 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which increased 17% from the prior month at 532 and 8% over the year at 578. The median job posting duration was 15 days, up three days from September and up six days from October 2023.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho, October 2024 | Postings, Oct-24 | Postings, Oct-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 37 | 15 |
| Registered nurses | 27 | 26 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 19 | 21 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 16 | 7 |
| Customer service representatives | 14 | 22 |
| General and operations managers | 13 | 10 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 13 | 11 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 10 | 7 |
| Janitors, cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 10 | 5 |
| Secretaries, administrative assistants, except legal, medical and executive | 8 | 5 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for October were health care practitioners and technical, sales and related, transportation and management, and transportation and material moving occupations. Among specific occupations, retail salespersons are at the top of the list with 37 unique online postings, followed by registered nurses with 27 postings, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with 19 postings, retail first-line supervisors with 16 postings and customer service representatives with 14 postings.
| Top industries by job unique postings in southeastern Idaho, October 2024 | Postings, Oct-24 | Postings, Oct-23 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 75 | 51 |
| Other general government support | 22 | 11 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 21 | 3 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 21 | 17 |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 18 | 28 |
| Department stores | 17 | 9 |
| All other support services | 14 | 0 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 14 | 0 |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 13 | 3 |
| Commercial and institutional building construction | 11 | 9 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Figure 3 shows health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, education services and public administration are at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in October. Looking at specific industries, medical and surgical hospitals had the most unique job postings and increased year over year by 47%. There were large year-over-year increases in all other support services, elementary schools, supermarkets and other grocery retailers.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho, October 2024 | Median duration, Oct-24 | Unique postings, Oct-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Home health and personal care aides | 29 | 8 |
| Painting, coating and decorating workers | 25 | 1 |
| Parking attendants | 25 | 3 |
| Insurance appraisers and auto damage | 24 | 1 |
| Market research analysts and marketing specialists | 22 | 3 |
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | 22 | 1 |
| Registered nurses | 20 | 27 |
| Marketing managers | 20 | 1 |
| Medical assistants | 20 | 7 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | 19 | 2 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Figure 4 highlights industries that stood out in October for the median number of days an occupational job posting is listed. Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, the business and finance and health care support occupations stood out in October, with insurance appraiser postings at a median duration of 24 days, market research analysts at 22 days, home health aides at 29 days and medical assistants at 20 days. Registered nurses, defined as health care practitioners rather than health care support workers, were one of the top in-demand jobs in the region.
| County housing data, October 2024 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $399,900 | -2.75% | 72 | 320 |
| Bear Lake | $578,225 | -6.31% | 98 | 67 |
| Bingham | $409,825 | -7.8% | 58 | 126 |
| Caribou | $350,000 | 0.73 | 102 | 31 |
| Franklin | $568,125 | 10.53% | 80 | 48 |
| Oneida | $439,000 | 3.92% | 85 | 23 |
| Power | $389,000 | 0% | 75 | 24 |
| Source: Realtor.com | ||||
- There was some negative price movement in October in Bannock, Bear Lake and Bingham counties while there was a substantial 11% median price increase in Franklin County. The county with the longest median time on the market was Caribou County at 102 days. Power County had the lowest median listing price in the region at $389,000 while Bingham County had the shortest median days on the market at 58.
Regional news
Bannock County
- The Idaho Bassheads, a Pocatello car club, held its fundraiser for Toys for Tots. The same event also held a trunk-or-treat immediately following the fundraiser. In 2023, this event raised $3,000 and served 1,000 children during the trunk-or-treat event. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Pocatello and Chubbuck School District created a committee to review elementary and middle school attendance to optimize capacity. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Pocatello Fire Department quickly contained a fire in downtown Pocatello after spotting smoke from the location. This fire, at Acute Rescue and Transport, was later investigated as arson. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Idaho State University (ISU) Community Psychiatric Center opened to treat patients 14 years and older who are experiencing a variety of mental health struggles. Source: East Idaho News
- ISU reported its fourth consecutive enrollment increase at 3.5%. The Fall 2024 class is the largest first-year student class this decade. Source: Idaho EdNews
- The Pebble Creek Ski Area unveiled its new conveyor lift, installed on the Aspen Beginner Area. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Brady Chapel held a ribbon cutting for the restoration of the historical Pocatello building. This was the result of $13,000 in donations raised by the Friends of Brady Chapel, Idaho Heritage Trust and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Source: East Idaho News
- The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree passed through Pocatello on its way from Alaska to Washington DC during the Veterans Day parade. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Openings included The Martlet (a brewery), Community All-Stars (a theater nonprofit) and Blush Beauty Spa. Source: KIFI News, Idaho State Journal
Bear Lake County
- The Bear Lake School District updated its stage lighting thanks to the Bear Lake Education Foundation, community fundraising amounting to over $16,000 in contributions and a grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts. The state-of-the-art lighting improves the quality of the school’s stage productions. Source: The News Examiner
Bingham County
- The Jason Lee United Methodist church hosted its Holiday Bazaar featuring homemade crafts and sweets. There were 166 lunches served at a cost of $12 each. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Blackfoot Does, in association with the Elk fraternity, raised $721.12 with a cornhole tournament for foster families in Blackfoot. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi opened. Source: East Idaho News
Caribou County
- The Soda Springs Presbyterian Church hosted its annual Harvest Bazaar. An event that has taken place since 1942, the bazaar serves dinner to guests and host a variety of baked goods, handmade items and a silent auction. The event raised about $6,300. Source: The News Examiner, Idaho State Journal
- Soda Springs opened a new Maverik and Liberty Car Dealership. Source: The News-Examiner, Idaho State Journal
Franklin County
- Preston held its annual downtown trick-or-treat event where local businesses pitched in to hand out treats. Source: The Preston Citizen
Oneida County
- The Oneida Pioneer Museum reported 700 visitors in 2024, about the same as 2023. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- The American Falls Airport grand opening was delayed for weather concerns. They received a $700,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Association and $5 million from the Association for Small Town Airports. Source: The Power County Press
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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