Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for October 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics have total employment increasing, but unemployment decreasing in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, October’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 286, with 215 more employed people and 71 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region remained unchanged at 3% and 0.3 percentage points higher than October 2023.
| Eastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Oct-24 (P) | Sep-24 (P) | Oct-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 132,789 | 132,503 | 129,349 |
| Total employment | 128,696 | 128,481 | 125,883 |
| Unemployment | 4,093 | 4,022 | 3,466 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked Source: Idaho Department of Labor |
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- There were an estimated 1,259 unique job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for October 2024, according to The Conference Board: Help Wanted Online (this is regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data.) The 1,259 postings are a 3% decrease from 1,294 the prior month and a 12% year-over-year increase from 1,140. Registered nurses were the top occupation of unique (deduplicated) job postings in the region for October. New to the top occupations by quantity of job postings this month were radiologic technologists and physical therapists. Employer hiring demand from a job postings perspective increased 4% for retail salespersons, 26% for hand laborers and material movers and 11% for general and operations managers. Job postings decreased for all other carryover occupations from the month prior.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, October 2024 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 56 |
| Retail salespersons | 55 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 44 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | 34 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 29 |
| Hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers | 23 |
| Customer service representatives | 21 |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 20 |
| General and operations managers | 18 |
| Physical therapists | 16 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- This month, educational services replaced manufacturing in the top five of regional industries by quantity of job postings. Industry hiring demand based on job postings increased over the month in health care and social assistance by 5%, waste management and remediation services by 15%, education services by 22%, other services by 28% and finance and insurance by 37%. Areas that saw a decrease in job postings over the month were public administration by 36%, manufacturing by 30%; professional, scientific and technical services by 26%; transportation and warehousing by 24% and wholesale trade industries by 18%.
| Top industries by job unique postings in eastern Idaho, October 2024 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 176 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 165 |
| Retail Trade | 141 |
| Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services | 120 |
| Educational services | 73 |
| Finance and insurance | 65 |
| Construction | 63 |
| Manufacturing | 62 |
| Wholesale trade | 62 |
| Other services | 36 |
| Public administration | 32 |
| Real estate and rental leasing | 28 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 25 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- October data on the hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, in terms of highest median job posting duration and multiple unique job postings, include registered nurses, general and operations managers and project management specialists. Hardest-to-fill job posting challenges in October by occupational family were health care practitioners, technical and management. All occupations were new to this month’s hardest-to-fill jobs list, except general and operations managers and registered nurses.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, October 2024 | Days to fill | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and health services managers | 25 | 8 |
| Speech-language pathologists | 25 | 6 |
| Financial managers | 24 | 7 |
| General and operations managers | 20 | 18 |
| Project management specialists | 18 | 13 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmotologists | 17 | 9 |
| Accounts and auditors | 17 | 7 |
| Registered nurses | 16 | 56 |
| Computer programmers | 16 | 6 |
| All other physicians | 16 | 6 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
Regional news
- Yellowstone National Park hosted 838,458 visitors last month, the second highest September on record. So far in 2024, the park has hosted 4,349,689 recreation visits, an increase of 5% since 2023. The year-to-date numbers are just 120,000 lower than in 2021, the park’s record-setting year. Source: National Park Service
- The Idaho Falls Regional Airport received $2.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for expanding the terminal’s outbound baggage processing, ticketing, airline offices and baggage screening areas. Construction will begin in the Spring of 2025. Source: KIFI
- The U.S. and Idaho Departments of Agriculture partnered with the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, awarding the following equipment and infrastructure grants for increased capacity and output in eastern Idaho to:
- Farr Candy Co. in Idaho Falls – $95,000 for equipment to increase ice cream manufacturing.
- Salmon Valley Stewardship in Salmon – $99,620 for a community commercial kitchen for regional producers and food businesses.
- Walters Produce 2.0 in Newdale – $96,023 for potato line improvements to increase capacity. Source: Capital Press
- The new Arco Wind and Solar project located outside of Idaho Falls was approved by the Idaho board of land commissioners, becoming the first wind and solar farm on Idaho endowment land. The 49-year lease will be developed by Pacificorp on 11,000 acres for 10 to 12 wind turbines and 2,000-5,000 acres for solar generator equipment. Source: KIFI
- Bonneville, Teton, Fremont, Jefferson and Madison Counties are eligible to apply for low-interest federal Small Business Administration disaster loans to offset economic losses due to reduced revenue from the draught that began Aug. 13. Source: U.S. Small Business Administration
Bonneville County
- A new retail establishment, Kid to Kid, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
- Amazing Glaze Donuts opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- Game Grid, a tabletop gaming retailer, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- Vast Apparel opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
- Budget Binzz, a retail shop, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
- North 40 Adventures, a new clothing, boutique and sporting goods shop, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- Another location of Park Avenue Grill opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
- 208 Outlets, an overstock liquidation company, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Falls Magazine
- Burly Burger, a restaurant chain based in Utah, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- OneZo, a boba tea store, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Falls Magazine
- Rediscovered Treasures, an Idaho Falls consignment shop, is permanently closing. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
- Bill’s Bike and Snow, a retailer in Idaho Falls, is permanently closing. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
- The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and/or groundbreaking ceremonies at Vast Apparel, U.S. Bank, The Little Play Hut Play Café, Transformative Journey Healthcare, North 40 Adventures and United Energy Workers Healthcare. 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
- Greater Idaho Falls Transit was inducted into the Idaho Transportation Department’s Hall of Fame for Innovation as something unique, not previously applied in the public transportation industry. The data obtained through this project will lead to further planning and recommendations for other services and possible expansion to surrounding areas. By the end of October 2024, the transit company gave over 220,000 rides in Idaho Falls. The program is planning to add five additional vehicles over the next six months. Source: KIFI
- The Bonneville School District’s $5.8 million supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
- The Idaho Falls School District’s $1.6 million supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
- The city of Ammon’s $1.25 million street levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
Clark County
- The Clark County School District’s $500,000 supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
Custer County
- Challis City Council reversed an ordinance and will now allow tiny homes, including five small, manufactured homes, to be parked inside the Round Valley RV Park. Source: Challis Messenger
- The Challis School District’s $1.4 million supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
Fremont County
- Wooden Nickel Stained Glass, a retailer in St. Anthony, is permanently closing. Source: East Idaho News
- The Fremont County School District’s $3 million supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
Jefferson County
- Idaho Elite K9 Training and Boarding Suites opened in Rigby. Source: East Idaho News
- The Ririe School District’s $745,000 supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
- The West Jefferson School District’s $720,000 supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
- The former U.S. Bank building in Rigby was sold to an undisclosed business. Source: Idaho Business Review
- The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a $1 million purchase for 37 acres of land to be used as a gravel pit for the Road and Bridge Department and for landfill expansion. Source: Jefferson Star
Madison County
- Great Clips hair salon opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Sumo Boba, a drink shop, opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Masala Indian Cuisine opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
Teton County
- The Teton School District’s $9.9 million supplemental levy passed. Source: East Idaho News
Eastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – October 2023 and 2024
Figure 5.| Median price sold | Sep-24 | Sep-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | $450,000 | $429,725 | 4.7% |
| Butte | $198,000 | $270,500 | -26.8% |
| Clark | $240,000 | $216,188 | 11.0% |
| Custer | $499,974 | $625,000 | -20.0% |
| Fremont | $747,900 | $697,000 | 7.3% |
| Jefferson | $525,000 | $534,375 | -1.8% |
| Lemhi | $579,750 | $657,000 | -11.8% |
| Madison | $398,500 | $394,700 | 1.0% |
| Teton | $993,750 | $939,000 | 5.8% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
| Active listings (inventory) | Oct-24 | Oct-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 402 | 357 | 12.6% |
| Butte | 18 | 22 | -18.2% |
| Clark | 1 | 2 | -50.0% |
| Custer | 48 | 34 | 41.2% |
| Fremont | 143 | 113 | 26.5% |
| Jefferson | 116 | 98 | 18.4% |
| Lemhi | 58 | 47 | 23.4% |
| Madison | 99 | 86 | 15.1% |
| Teton | 137 | 109 | 25.7% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Median days on market | Oct-24 | Oct-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 52 | 40 | 30.0% |
| Butte | 85 | 84 | 1.2% |
| Clark | 162 | 57 | 184.2% |
| Custer | 94 | 106 | -11.3% |
| Fremont | 105 | 82 | 28.0% |
| Jefferson | 64 | 77 | -16.9% |
| Lemhi | 97 | 89 | 9.0% |
| Madison | 74 | 47 | 57.4% |
| Teton | 97 | 85 | 14.1% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Total homes pending sale | Oct-24 | Oct-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 201 | 159 | 26.4% |
| Butte | 4 | 4 | 0.0% |
| Clark | 2 | N/A | N/A |
| Custer | 8 | 6 | 33.3% |
| Fremont | 36 | 24 | 50.0% |
| Jefferson | 38 | 34 | 11.8% |
| Lemhi | 6 | 6 | 0.0% |
| Madison | 36 | 27 | 33.3% |
| Teton | 73 | 49 | 49.0% |
| 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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