- Labor force estimates for April 2025 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics have total over-the-month employment increasing with unemployment decreasing in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, April preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 2,021 people, with 183 fewer employed people and 2,204 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region increased to 3.4% since last month and 0.2 percentage points higher than April 2024.
| Eastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Apr-25 (P) | Mar-25 (P) | Apr-24 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 133,764 | 131,743 | 134,172 |
| Total employment | 129,407 | 127,203 | 130,004 |
| Unemployment | 4,357 | 4,540 | 4,168 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
| P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked Source: Idaho Department of Labor |
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- There were an estimated 2,998 deduplicated job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for April 2025, according to The Conference Board: Help Wanted Online. (This is regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data.) The 2,998 postings are a marginal increase from 2,995 the prior month and a 22% increase from 2,345 year-over-year. Retail sales supervisors replaced nursery and farm workers in the top five of unique job postings in the region for April. New to the top occupations by quantity of job postings this month were hand laborers, material movers, secondary school teachers, coaches and scouts. Employer hiring demand based on quantity of job postings increased 27% for customer service representatives, 15% for retail sales supervisors and 16% for merchandise displayers. Hiring demand decreased 9% for registered nurses and 47% for nursery farm workers since last month.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, April 2025 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 136 |
| Registered salespersons | 95 |
| Registered nurses | 94 |
| Customer service representatives | 85 |
| First-line supervisors of retail service workers | 55 |
| Hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers | 48 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 44 |
| Secondary school teachers | 43 |
| Crop, nursery, greenhouse farmworkers and laborers | 40 |
| Coaches and scouts | 39 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- Transportation and warehousing replaced utilities in the top five regional industries by quantity of job postings for April. Hiring demand based on total unique job postings increased over the month at 19% for retail trade, 18% for educational services, 20% in wholesale trade, 6% in construction and 11% in public administration. Hiring demand based on total job postings decreased 7% in accommodation and food services, 6% in finance and insurance, 5% in manufacturing and 7% in professional, scientific and technical industries.
| Top industries by job unique postings in eastern Idaho, April 2025 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Retail trade | 349 |
| Health care and social assistance | 335 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 316 |
| Educational services | 291 |
| Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services | 262 |
| Manufacturing | 221 |
| Wholesale trade | 207 |
| Construction | 143 |
| Finance and insurance | 87 |
| Public administration | 87 |
| Accommodation and food services | 69 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 66 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Hardest-to-fill occupations in the eastern Idaho region in April, by highest median job posting duration and multiple unique job postings, included coaches, scouts, heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers and secondary school teachers. Hardest-to-fill job posting challenges in April by occupational family were engineering, construction and sales and related. All occupations were new to this month’s hardest-to-fill jobs list except wholesale, manufacturing sales representatives and occupational health and safety specialists.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, April 2025 | Days to fill | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear engineers | 49 | 19 |
| Coaches and scouts | 46 | 139 |
| Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives | 46 | 15 |
| Sales managers | 46 | 14 |
| Civil engineers | 37 | 25 |
| Surveyors | 35 | 15 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | 35 | 13 |
| Secondary school teachers | 35 | 43 |
| Operating engineers and construction equipment operators | 34 | 24 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 33 | 136 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
Regional news
- The governors of Idaho, Wyoming and Utah signed a memoranda of understanding for their states to coordinate nuclear infrastructure and accelerate nuclear development. Source: Idaho Capital Sun
- The Idaho Falls Football Club hosted the largest soccer tournament in the state with 250 teams from Idaho, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. The tournament took place across nine locations around Idaho Falls. Approximately 10,000 people attended which created an estimate of over $1 million in economic impact. Source: Bonneville Youth Soccer League
- Idaho National Laboratory and Boise State University have partnered to develop 3D-printable magnetostrictive ink. The agreement will enhance advanced manufacturing research focusing on materials for extreme environments and nuclear energy. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Idaho and the U.S. Department of Energy have agreed to a 1995 nuclear waste settlement agreement waiver allowing shipment of spent nuclear fuel into Idaho for conducting research at Idaho National Laboratory. Source: Idaho National Laboratory
- The College of Eastern Idaho received Idaho’s highest institution ranking under The Carnegie Foundation’s new Institutional Classification for Student Access and Earnings by providing strong pathways for access, education and career outcomes. Source: College of Eastern Idaho
- March visitation for this year at Yellowstone National Park exceeded 33,000 people and had a 1% increase compared to March 2024. During the fiscal year ending in March 2025, over 4.74 million people visited the park, which equaled 5% more visitors, compared to 2024. Source: National Park Service
Bonneville County
- Holy Rollers, a garbage collection establishment, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- Arctic Spas Hot Tubs opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
- The vacated Big Lots retail store in Idaho Falls will become a Tractor Supply Company retailer. Source: USA Today
- Super T Transport in Idaho Falls permanently closed, affecting 30 employees. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
- The Bureau of Land Management has proposed geothermal leasing of 3,740 acres in the county. Land owner lessees would allow exploration for potential future geothermal energy development. Source: Bureau of Land Management
- Habitat for Humanity began construction of affordable housing on 12 acres west of Idaho Falls. Homeowner qualification is based on financial readiness and a required 300 hours of sweat equity. Source: KIFI
- The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and/or groundbreaking ceremonies at Arctic Spas Hot Tubs, Connections Credit Union, Upper Valley Tumbling, Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce and 710 Spectrum and Gents. 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
- Frontier Credit Union, headquartered in Idaho Falls, acquired First Citizens Bank of Butte to strategically expand financial services into the Montana market. Source: Frontier Credit Union
- Broulim’s Fresh Foods in Ammon donated $3,700 to Idaho Falls Rescue Mission. Source: KIFI
Custer County
- U.S. Bank permanently closed their Mackay branch. Source: East Idaho News
Jefferson County
- Tailored Canine, a dog grooming and day care service from Idaho Falls, opened another new location in Rigby. Source: Jefferson Star
- Alturas International Academy charter school has been approved for construction within the Rigby Fieldstone Meadows subdivision. Source: Jefferson Star
Madison County
- Drone Spray Pro, an establishment that uses drones to spray crops, launched in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Tal’s Auto Spa Detailing opened a shop in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Sparks Barbecue opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Jersey Mike’s Subs is opening a restaurant in Rexburg. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Rogue Brownies recently launched an e-commerce venture with a gourmet brownie brand and support from a new BYU-Idaho experiential learning program. Source: East Idaho News
- Stone’s Town & Country Motors in Rexburg donated $20,000 to Sugar-Salem School District 322’s future Career Technical Education Center and pledged $10,000 annually to the automotive program. Other businesses have also partnered with the district, including Taylor Chevrolet and Woody Smith Hyundai, as well as Mountain View Hospital and MadisonHealth for the nursing program. Source: East Idaho News
- James Tedjamulia from Rexburg won $10,000 from two business pitch competitions. He developed ReadBuddy AI, a software concept that uses artificial intelligence for dyslexic users learning to read. Source: East Idaho News
Teton County
- A new preschool, Tetonia Play School, opened in Tetonia. Source: Teton Valley News
- There are currently 23 pending residential subdivisions that would create 221 building lots through the county Planning and Zoning Department. Since 2022, developers have submitted 122 subdivision applications to create 1,277 lots. Source: Jackson Hole News & Guide
Eastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – May 2024 and 2025
- In the region’s largest flagship housing market, Bonneville County, there were 360 homes in inventory. However, around 200 homes were pending sale in April. This leaves a relatively small net inventory of homes for sale still to choose from, leaning more in favor of a sellers’ market. County prices have increased over the year from $402,000 to $454,000 in one year, or 13%. Home prices have also increased in the region’s second largest housing market, Madison County, by nearly 20% since April 2024.
| Median price sold | Apr-25 | Apr-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | $453,600 | $402,000 | 12.8% |
| Butte | $240,000 | $257,750 | -6.9% |
| Clark | $342,000 | $240,000 | 42.5% |
| Custer | $535,000 | $543,000 | -1.5% |
| Fremont | $741,200 | $685,000 | 8.2% |
| Jefferson | $479,900 | $539,000 | -11.0% |
| Lemhi | $551,500 | $498,800 | 10.6% |
| Madison | $516,000 | $432,300 | 19.4% |
| Teton | $882,000 | $867,800 | 1.6% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
| Active listings (inventory) | Apr-25 | Apr-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 360 | 261 | 37.9% |
| Butte | 14 | 17 | -17.6% |
| Clark | 2 | 1 | 100.0% |
| Custer | 27 | 27 | 0.0% |
| Fremont | 87 | 82 | 6.1% |
| Jefferson | 96 | 64 | 50.0% |
| Lemhi | 32 | 56 | -42.9% |
| Madison | 90 | 83 | 8.4% |
| Teton | 125 | 66 | 89.4% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Median days on market | Apr-25 | Apr-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 45 | 54 | -16.7% |
| Butte | 136 | 67 | 103.0% |
| Clark | 48 | 47 | 2.1% |
| Custer | 162 | 163 | -0.6% |
| Fremont | 48 | 78 | -38.5% |
| Jefferson | 53 | 46 | 15.2% |
| Lemhi | 89 | 119 | -25.2% |
| Madison | 51 | 42 | 21.4% |
| Teton | 66 | 48 | -37.5% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Total homes pending sale | Apr-25 | Apr-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 194 | 133 | 45.9% |
| Butte | 4 | 5 | -20.0% |
| Clark | 3 | 1 | N/A |
| Custer | 6 | 7 | -14.3% |
| Fremont | 17 | 13 | 30.8% |
| Jefferson | 51 | 46 | 10.9% |
| Lemhi | 5 | 8 | -37.5% |
| Madison | 41 | 26 | 57.7% |
| Teton | 35 | 84 | -58.3% |
| 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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