Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for April 2025 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had total employment increasing and total unemployment decreasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, April’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 548 people, with 719 more employed people and 171 less unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.5%, which decreased 0.2% from March 2025 and stayed the same in April 2024.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Apr-25 (P) | Mar-25 (R) | Apr-24 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 87,935 | 87,387 | 86,489 |
| Total employment | 84,889 | 84,170 | 83,426 |
| Unemployment | 3,046 | 3,217 | 3,063 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.5% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In April 2025 there were 1,452 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which decreased 4% from the prior month at 1,512 and increased 2% over the year at 1,428. The median job posting duration was 30 days, which decreased by one day from March and increased six days compared to April 2024.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Apr-25 | Postings, Apr-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 60 | 67 |
| Retail salespersons | 55 | 84 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 46 | 45 |
| Stockers and order fillers | 34 | 15 |
| Coaches and scouts | 31 | 1 |
| Customer service representatives | 31 | 28 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 26 | 18 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 25 | 27 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 22 | 9 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 20 | 33 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for April were health care and transportation. Among specific occupations include registered nurses (60), retail sales (55) and truck drivers (46). Job postings for coaches and scouts increased to 31 — a notable increase from one posting in 2024.
| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Apr-25 | Postings, Apr-24 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 172 | 146 |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 67 | 59 |
| College, universities and professional schools | 60 | 68 |
| Other general government support | 57 | 30 |
| Engineering services | 43 | 7 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 41 | 28 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 34 | 6 |
| Frozen fruit, juice and vegetable manufacturing | 32 | 19 |
| Lessors of other real estate property | 32 | 40 |
| Automotive parts and accessories retailers | 27 | 21 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Health care, social assistance, retail, trade and manufacturing are at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in April. This includes general medical and surgical hospitals, supermarkets, frozen fruit and vegetable manufacturing. Engineering postings increased substantially year over year as did elementary schools and general hospitals. Colleges, universities and professional schools — as well as lessors of other real estate property — saw some small decreases in postings year over year.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho | Median duration, Apr-25 | Unique postings, Apr-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Security guards | 58 | 3 |
| Tire repairers and changers | 56 | 7 |
| Speech-language pathologists | 56 | 3 |
| Dining room, cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers | 53 | 6 |
| Instructional coordinators | 53 | 2 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 52 | 1 |
| First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service and groundskeeping workers | 48 | 2 |
| First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers | 47 | 11 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners | 47 | 4 |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health | 46 | 5 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, security guards (58), tire changers (56), speech pathologists (56) and cafeteria attendants (53) stood out. Of these top hardest-to-fill occupations, none of them were in the top 10 for most in demand. Food preparation supervisors had 11 job postings which were the most unique from the list.
| County housing data, April 2025 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $422,500 | 3.05% | 53 | 237 |
| Bear Lake | $604,000 | 0.83% | 62 | 61 |
| Bingham | $452,500 | 0.00% | 57 | 115 |
| Caribou | $388,500 | -6.95% | 52 | 31 |
| Franklin | $507,495 | -7.73% | 43 | 53 |
| Oneida | $392,975 | 9.46% | 152 | 21 |
| Power | $445,000 | 7.23% | 59 | 21 |
| Source: Realtor.com Economic Research | ||||
- In April, Bear Lake County continued its upward price trend, but didn’t get near 46% from last month. Regardless, this county continues to have the highest median price in the southeastern region. Price changes across the board weren’t as noticeable with the greatest increase in Oneida County at 9.46% and a decrease in Franklin County at 7.73%. Franklin County was also the hottest market with a median of 43 days on the market. The county with the longest median time on the market was still Oneida at 152 days. Caribou County had the lowest median price of $388,500.
Regional news
- US Bank in Montpelier, Malad and Blackfoot are slated to close. Source: The News Examiner
Bannock County
- Some Walmart stores in Bannock County, along with stores in Texas and Kentucky, have begun selling Lava Hot Springs Inn Mineral Water. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Idaho State University’s College of Business received a $3,000,000 endowment from an anonymous donor. The college plans to invest in things like scholarships, class activities and renovations. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Pocatello Animal Services closed temporarily due to the detection of canine parvovirus. Source: KPVI News
- The Portneuf Valley Technical Education and Career Campus had its ribbon cutting after finishing renovations. Partially operating since 2023, the campus will soon operate at full capacity. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Pocatello Rotary Club issued a $1,166 grant to the Idaho Food Bank in Pocatello. Source: KPVI News
- The Portneuf Valley Farmers Market began its season, bringing fresh food, art and music once again to Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Phil Meador Subaru issued a $16,500 grant to the Bannock Humane Society. This comes at a time known as “kitten season” to the organization where expenses are up as the inflow of new kittens and the cost of fixing them increase. The grant will also help pay for other general medical expenses and food. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Pedal Fest Inc., a trail maintenance nonprofit, was reconstituted into the Portneuf Valley Trails Alliance. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Thunderbird Motel in Pocatello has new ownership. Siblings of the Robertson family hope to shake off the motel’s negative reputation and transform it into affordable housing. Source: East Idaho News
- Premier Eye Care held a groundbreaking in Chubbuck for its new clinic. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2026. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Lava Elementary in Lava Hot Springs closed due to low enrollment. Staff and teachers have moved forward with a plan to turn the elementary into a charter school. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Brindle Up Hope, a nonprofit horse ranch for girls and women, held a ribbon cutting. The ranch hopes to help women and girls over the age of 11 to learn to care for a horse. Source: KPVI News
- Homefire Comfort Foods is a new barbecue food truck open in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bingham Healthcare opened a new tele-pharmacy. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Mike’s Music, Petersen Inc. and Sumisu Sushi all closed in Pocatello. Source: East Idaho News, Idaho State Journal
Bear Lake County
- Bear Lake Middle School in the city of Montpelier was recognized as an Idaho STEM Designated School. It was listed as one of 12 schools statewide and was the only public middle school to receive the accreditation. Source: The News Examiner
- Bear Lake High School won its sixth consecutive welding competition for the annual Idaho State University Rocky Mountain Welding Shootout. Source: The News Examiner
Bingham County
- The Blackfoot Animal Shelter opened. The new facility will be able to house 65 dogs and 40-50 cats. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Shoshone Bannock Community Health Center broke ground on its new clinic. The clinic will replace the current clinic and will include an in-house pharmacy, exam rooms, labs and physical therapy. Source: KPVI News
- Zions Bank issued a $2,000 grant to purchase “Halo Swivel Bassinets” at the Grove Creek Medical Center. This enables newborns to sleep safely near their mothers at the hospital. Source: Idaho State Journal
Franklin County
- Strawberry Canyon had a controlled burn as part of the Vegetation Enhancement Project. The burn will improve forest health and resilience by reducing foliage density, while also reducing built-up sticks and leaves that can serve as fuel for an uncontrolled forest fire. Source: News Examiner
- The Children’s Developmental Disability Center purchased a new bus from a donation campaign that successfully raised $25,000. The bus will replace the old bus that experienced a breakdown. Source: The Preston Citizen
Oneida County
- The Oneida County Pioneer Museum is holding a fundraising campaign to finance remodeling and preservation for their 1914 building. Source: Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- The CEO of Power County Hospital, Dallas Clinger, announced his retirement after 19 years. 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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