Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for July 2025 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had total employment and unemployment in the labor force increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, July’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 500 people, with 343 more employed people and 157 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.9%, a 0.2% increase from June 2025 and 0.2% from July 2024.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Jul-25 (P) | Jun-25 (R) | Jul-24 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 87,720 | 87,220 | 86,905 |
| Total employment | 84,319 | 83,976 | 83,684 |
| Unemployment | 3,401 | 3,244 | 3,221 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.9% | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In July 2025 there were 2,854 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which increased 24% from the prior month and 77% year over year. The median job posting duration was 32 days, an increase of 10 days from June and a decrease of one day from July 2024.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Jul-25 | Postings, Jul-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 116 | 105 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 116 | 18 |
| Registered nurses | 101 | 77 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer trucker drivers | 93 | 53 |
| Customer service representatives | 68 | 28 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 48 | 14 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 45 | 42 |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical and executive | 44 | 21 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 41 | 24 |
| Teaching assistants, except postsecondary | 40 | 23 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for July were health care, sales and transportation. Among specific occupations, retail salespersons tied with home health aides at 116 job postings, while registered nurses had 101 job postings. This month home health and personal care aides were elevated from 18 postings last year.
| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Jul-25 | Postings, Jul-24 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 294 | 208 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 99 | 59 |
| Home health care services | 77 | 10 |
| Limited-service restaurants | 77 | 21 |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 75 | 39 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 75 | 50 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores | 71 | 43 |
| Warehouse clubs and supercenters | 61 | 21 |
| Automotive parts and accessories retailers | 42 | 12 |
| Lessors of other real estate property | 39 | 5 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Health care and social assistance, retail, trade and manufacturing landed at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in July. This includes general medical and surgical hospitals, supermarkets and elementary schools. Each and every listed industry had elevated postings since last year.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho | Median duration, Jul-25 | Unique postings, Jul-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Health care diagnosing or treating practictioners and all other | 59 | 2 |
| Buyers and purchasing agents | 57 | 3 |
| Pesticide handlers, sprayers, applicators and vegetation | 56 | 3 |
| Automotive and watercraft service attendants | 56 | 4 |
| Millwrights | 55 | 4 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 54 | 8 |
| Bus, truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | 54 | 2 |
| Locksmiths and safe repairers | 54 | 2 |
| Glaziers | 54 | 2 |
| Personal financial advisors | 53 | 4 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, health care diagnostics (59), purchasing agents (57), pesticide handlers (56) and automotive service attendants (56) stood out as the hardest to fill. Of these occupations, none of them made the top 10 list for most in demand occupations.
| County housing data, July 2025 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $425,450 | -0.33% | 53 | 358 |
| Bear Lake | $599,500 | -2.76% | 89 | 82 |
| Bingham | $469,725 | 4.83% | 58 | 177 |
| Caribou | $391,125 | -0.98% | 59 | 52 |
| Franklin | $501,000 | 0.00% | 64 | 77 |
| Oneida | $501,000 | -0.68% | 88 | 23 |
| Power | $399,225 | -1.29% | 68 | 30 |
| Source: Realtor.com Economic Research | ||||
- In July, Oneida County remained the lowest median price with continued downward price movement at -0.68% month over month. The county also had smallest overall housing stock.
- Franklin County had a more middling number of listings for the region, yet had no month over month price movement.
- Bear Lake County continued to have the highest median listing price in the region and the most days on the market, although it did see a decline of 2.7% in prices since June.
Regional news
Bannock County
- The Downey Bannock County Fairground’s new Exhibit Hall held a ribbon cutting. The structure replaces the old building and will have expanded functionality including an exhibit space, kitchen, offices and meeting room. The building was financed using a $1 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act and $700,000 in donations. Source: KIFI News
- Optimist Skate Park in Pocatello held its ribbon cutting. The nearly 8,000 square foot facility features ramps, stairs, ledges, rails and a 41 foot long bowl. The project was funded through an American Rescue Plan Act grant in addition to $25,000 from the Southeast Idaho Skatepark Association. Source: KPVI News
- The Bannock Development Corporation, an economic development agency based in Pocatello, changed its name to Portneuf Valley Development Corporation. Source: East Idaho News
- Lava Hot Springs Academy, a new charter school in the place of the former Lava Elementary School, opened. The school plans to be operational for the upcoming school year and will teach kindergarten through 6th grade with new curriculum. Source: KPVI News
- Tilly’s Pizzeria in Lava Hot Springs opened on Center Street. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bingham County
- Idaho National Laboratory visited Fort Hall as part of their STEM Scholars on the Road summer program. The program aims to introduce students to a variety of science, technology, engineering, arts and math careers. Source: Sho-Ban News
Caribou County
- The Soda Springs Geyser went dormant as mechanical failure caused the cap that times the geyser’s eruptions to every hour, to remain closed. Repairs are expected to take eight weeks. Source: KIFI News
- The Small Town Ruckus podcast, based in Soda Springs, started streaming to discuss rural living. Source: The News Examiner
Oneida County
- Bamma Wamma’s Pop Soda expanded its facilities to accommodate new frozen yogurt offerings in the City of Malad. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
- Subway, in the City of Malad, changed ownership. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- Lamb Weston, at the behest of activist investors, ousted its CEO. The new administration set a goal to reduce its workforce by 4%. This is part of its new strategic plan to reduce costs by $250 million by the end of 2025. Source: East Idaho News
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.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.