News
Regional labor market information
Southwestern Idaho’s single-family home sales – December 2023 and 2024
| Median price sold | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | $529,900 | $516,745 | 2.5% |
| Adams | $1,025,000 | $756,000 | 35.6% |
| Boise | $495,000 | $699,000 | -29.2% |
| Canyon | $408,562 | $415,000 | -1.6% |
| Elmore | $387,789 | $359,000 | 8.0% |
| Gem | $389,222 | $439,000 | -11.3% |
| Owyhee | $380,000 | $222,500 | 70.8% |
| Payette | $395,450 | $355,000 | 11.4% |
| Valley | $810,000 | $987,225 | -18.0% |
| Washington | $295,444 | $440,000 | -32.9% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1b.
| Days on market | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 50 | 49 | 2.0% |
| Adams | 44 | 44 | 0.0% |
| Boise | 80 | 115 | -30.4% |
| Canyon | 57 | 57 | 0.0% |
| Elmore | 67 | 64 | 4.7% |
| Gem | 49 | 73 | -32.9% |
| Owyhee | 47 | 78 | -39.7% |
| Payette | 74 | 66 | 12.1% |
| Valley | 69 | 104 | -33.7% |
| Washington | 91 | 109 | -16.5% |
| Regional average days | 63 | 76 | -17.3% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1c.
| Inventory | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 1,275 | 1,184 | 7.7% |
| Adams | 24 | 18 | 33.3% |
| Boise | 74 | 30 | 146.7% |
| Canyon | 909 | 752 | 20.9% |
| Elmore | 96 | 65 | 47.7% |
| Gem | 90 | 65 | 38.5% |
| Owyhee | 25 | 18 | 38.9% |
| Payette | 93 | 80 | 16.3% |
| Valley | 107 | 90 | 18.9% |
| Washington | 37 | 36 | 2.8% |
| Regional totals | 2,730 | 2,338 | 16.8% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1d.
| Total homes sold | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 679 | 498 | 36.3% |
| Adams | 3 | 4 | -25.0% |
| Boise | 11 | 9 | 22.2% |
| Canyon | 370 | 259 | 42.9% |
| Elmore | 31 | 33 | -6.1% |
| Gem | 25 | 18 | 38.9% |
| Owyhee | 7 | 1 | 600.0% |
| Payette | 30 | 24 | 25.0% |
| Valley | 24 | 11 | 118.2% |
| Washington | 23 | 5 | 360.0% |
| SW sold and % change | 1,203 | 862 | 39.6% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
| Dec-23 | Dec-24 | % change | # change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unique postings | 6,971 | 7,306 | 4.8% | 335 |
| Days posted | 8 | 15 | 87.5% | 7 |
| Number of employers | 2,130 | 2,121 | -0.4% | -9 |
| Advertised wage | $23.32 | $27.14 | 16.4% | $3.82 |
| Share wage advertisements | 47% | 50% | 6.4% | 3% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southwestern Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 | Year over year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 246 | 348 | -29.3% |
| Retail salespersons | 166 | 212 | -21.7% |
| Sales representatives, wholesale, manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 166 | 143 | 16.1% |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 160 | 158 | 1.3% |
| Customer service representatives | 159 | 156 | 1.9% |
| Trailer-tractor truck drivers | 93 | 107 | -13.1% |
| Software developers | 106 | 62 | 71.0% |
| Project management specialists | 86 | 80 | 7.5% |
| Fast food and counter workers | 86 | 47 | 83.0% |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 79 | 88 | -10.2% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
Ada County
- The North End Zone project broke ground as the Boise State Bronco’s blue turf adds skyboxes and more elite seating for fans. The $65 million project will allow other sports to utilize the facility when football season is over. The Boise State band will move to the South End Zone for next year’s football season. Source: Idaho News 6
- Albertsons Companies announced there will be layoffs within its Idaho corporate workforce but will not affect store personnel. The specifics are still being reviewed and will be announced over the next month. This comes after a planned acquisition by Kroger was deemed a threat to competition by the courts. The ruling was handed down after lawsuits were filed by the state attorney generals in both Washington and Colorado. Albertsons Companies immediately filed a lawsuit against Kroger for undermining the transaction. Source: KTVB News and Idaho Statesman
- The Supreme Court ruled against the district court’s affirmation of the Boise City Council decision which allowed a conditional use permit for the Interfaith Sanctuary’s new shelter in Boise. The permit was originally denied by Boise Planning and Zoning based on concerns of the Veteran’s Park Neighborhood Association. The decision was overturned by Boise City Council members. The nonprofit has started renovation and construction of the 200-bed shelter. The case has been remanded to the district court with instructions to invalidate the council’s actions. Source: CBS2 News
Boise County
- Highway 21 was closed for an extended period due to avalanches and the potential to trigger additional avalanches. The closure of the road impacts residents of Idaho City and Lowman, as well as deliveries to stores and residents living in these mountainous areas. People traveling to Stanley had been rerouted to Highway 75, adding an additional couple of hours to the drive. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Bogus Basin received the prestigious top award for best ski resorts nationally by Newsweek based on a poll of its readership (rankings provided below). The Bogus Basin Tubing Hill was ranked seventh by Newsweek readers in its category of tubing hills. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Bogus Basin, Boise, Idaho
- Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah
- Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington, New York
- Sun Valley Resort, Sun Valley, Idaho
- Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort, Snowmass Village, Colorado
- Vail Ski Resort, Vail, Colorado
- Alta Ski Area, Alta, Utah
- Telluride Ski Resort, Telluride, Colorado
- Heavenly Ski Resort, South Lake Tahoe, California
- Steamboat Ski Resort, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Canyon County
- St. Luke’s announced the opening of an OB/GYN clinic in Nampa above the former Saltzer Urgent Care Clinic. The closure of Saltzer’s operations by its parent company, Intermountain Health, left a women’s health services void. It employed nine physicians, either medical doctors, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives or physicians’ assistants. To further exacerbate the shortage, Caldwell’s West Valley Medical Center closed its labor and delivery unit, along with its OB/GYN practice. St. Luke’s will open with one full-time physician and two full-time certified nurse midwives initially. Source: Idaho News 6
- Darigold, a subsidiary of Northwest Dairy Association, with member dairies in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, received and agreed to pay a $318,000 fine from the Environmental Protection Agency. The company’s milk processing plant in Caldwell is accused of high levels of E. coli exceeding allowable limits in its discharge to the lower Boise River which feeds into the Snake River, then the Columbia River before connecting with the Pacific Ocean. The 300,000 gallons that are dumped daily based on Darigold’s permit were allowed volume-wise, yet the company failed to properly inspect and test for bacteria counts. The incidents occurred in January and May of 2020, then again in May 2021. Source: Idaho Statesman
Elmore County
- Mountain Home’s Richard McKenna Charter High School is expanding with the addition of 25,000 square feet at an estimated cost of $9.8 million. The addition to the existing high school building includes a new gym for indoor sports and workout equipment, along with a garage for the buses and vans used to transport students. There will be more classrooms with an emphasis on drones, robots, cyber security and programming. Completion should be in May of this year. An additional 130 students were enrolled prompting the expansion. Source: Mountain Home News
Gem County
- Connectivity will soon be enhanced in Emmett after completion of a project that is underway. Idaho communities from Grangeville to Star will be positively impacted by the investment. Currently, multiple crews are laying 198 miles of fiber optic cable that will allow broadband access by both municipalities and private providers to these rural areas. Grant funding was provided by a middle-mile infrastructure grant from the State of Idaho’s Broadband Advisory Board, which is a conduit to the CARES Act monies. The grant provided $20 million with a $60 million match from participating entities. Crews are installing one to two miles of cable daily. Work around Emmett is to be completed this January by the public and private collaboration between Intermountain Infrastructure Group and Idaho Regional Optical Network. The project started in 2023 and has a completion deadline of February 2026. Source: Idaho Press
Owyhee County
- Conduit for broadband is being installed in Murphy based on a $4.3 million grant from the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board. White Cloud Communications obtained the grant to provide fiber optic connectivity to rural Owyhee County. A new cell tower has already been developed in Murphy based on an earlier attempt to utilize broadband funding. More projects throughout the county will be completed in Grand View and Bruneau with the plan to provide fiber for Rimrock Schools and C.J. Strike Reservoir. Source: The Owyhee Avalanche
Valley County
- The McCall-Donnelly School District hosted a grand opening of its new employee housing development. The project offers eight units with six one-bedroom units; two two-bedroom, two-bath units and one two-bedroom, two-bath specifically designed to accommodate those with a disability. The units are for the school district employees only and rent will be based on a sliding scale to keep costs at 30% of the tenant’s income. The project started two years ago and ran into delays due to broader infrastructure issues. The project was budgeted at $5.3 million and has stayed within these parameters with landscaping to follow this spring. Source: The McCall Star-News
Ground breakings
- Ada County broke ground on the new park in Garden City at Expo Idaho. The $32 million dollar project is funded by American Rescue Plan funding and must be completed by 2026. The park is designed on 50 acres to include trails, open spaces, a skate park and a natural play area for children. It is being compared to New York City’s Central Park and estimate its influence over the next 50 years will be considerable. The Western Idaho Fair will continue in the same space as the last 58 years. Source: Boise State Public Radio
- Canyon County and Caldwell officials celebrated the groundbreaking of a new sheriff’s administration building in Caldwell. The new 82,866 square foot building has three stories and will house between 120 and 130 employees of departments including emergency operations, dispatch centers, pretrial and alternative sentencing services, the public records division along with training and meeting rooms for law enforcement personnel across the Treasure Valley. The $27.6 million cost is funded by American Rescue Plan Act monies and should be ready for occupancy by March 2026. Source: Idaho Press
Openings
- First Federal Bank, a 100-year-old mutual bank, opened a new branch in downtown Nampa – its 14th Idaho bank branch. The financial institution entered the Treasure Valley 10 years ago with operations based out of Twin Falls. A mutual bank is owned by its depositors and reinvests in the community. Source: Idaho Business Review
- The Griddle opened its fifth Idaho restaurant at the former Gino’s Italian Ristorante in Meridian. It has one other Meridian restaurant, in addition to eateries in Boise, Nampa and Eagle. Source: Idaho Statesman
- A virtual reality arcade opened in Meridian’s former Furniture Outfitters building. VR1 Arcade offers a new concept of gaming, as well as the payment method of a daily pass, rather than charging for each game. There is access to thousands of games plus the arcade can hold up to 84 people. There is also an in-house restaurant offering burgers and refreshments. On average, guests stay at the arcade for four to five hours. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Big Bun Drive-In opened a second restaurant at the previous Carl’s Jr. location in Garden City. It distributed free milkshakes on its first Saturday in operation to celebrate the opening. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Caldwell has its first Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop. It celebrated its grand opening with giveaways and different deals throughout the month of January. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Mazzah Mediterranean Grill opened within the auspices of Boise’s downtown Warehouse Food Hall. The Warehouse is now at capacity with 16 food and beverage choices. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Pueblo Lindo opened a family-style Mexican restaurant in Eagle. The location has been vacant since 2023 after Holy Cow Idaho lasted a year in the former Buster’s Sports Bar & Grill space. This is its third location with other restaurants in Meridian and McCall. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Americana Pizza — known for its popular New York style pizza — opened its second Boise restaurant in the former Cucina di Paolo building. The building is known for the signage that includes a laundry woman and her wash basin that originally attracted customers to a laundromat in the 1950’s. Temporarily, the new owners have dressed her in a ninja turtle costume. Source: Idaho Statesman
Closures
- Kohl’s announced the closing of its store in the Boise Town Square Mall. The Meridian and Nampa stores will remain open. Employees have been informed of their severance packages or if they can move to a different store or position within the company, according to a company news release. Source: Idaho Statesman
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.
Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for December 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, December preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 1,609, with 1,653 more employed people and 44 fewer unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region held at 3.2% since last month and 0.6 percentage points higher than December 2023.
| Eastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Dec-24 (P) | Nov-24 (P) | Dec-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 134,837 | 133,228 | 128,810 |
| Total employment | 130,582 | 128,929 | 125,522 |
| Unemployment | 4,255 | 4,299 | 3,288 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
| P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked Source: Idaho Department of Labor |
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- There were an estimated 2,534 unique, deduplicated job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for December 2024, according to The Conference Board: Help Wanted Online (this is regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data.) The 2,534 postings are a 170% increase from 941 the prior month and a 6% year-over-year increase from 2,388. Registered nurses remained the top occupation of unique job postings in the region for December. New to the top occupations by quantity of job postings this month were retail supervisors, radiologic technicians and general operations managers. Employer hiring demand based on quantity of job postings increased by a wide margin for all occupations in the top 10 since last month.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, December 2024 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 125 |
| Retail salespersons | 98 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 79 |
| Hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers | 63 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 59 |
| Customer service representatives | 47 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 37 |
| General maintenance and repair workers | 33 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | 28 |
| General and operations managers | 26 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- Manufacturing replaced finance and insurance in the top five of regional industries by quantity of job postings this month. Industry hiring demand by total job postings nearly tripled across the board over the month.
| Top industries by job unique postings in eastern Idaho, December 2024 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 410 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 312 |
| Retail trade | 269 |
| Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services | 204 |
| Manufacturing | 168 |
| Educational services | 164 |
| Wholesale trade | 142 |
| Construction | 99 |
| Finance and insurance | 94 |
| Public administration | 70 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 62 |
| Accommodation and food services | 50 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- December data on the hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, by highest median job posting duration and multiple unique job postings, include heavy truck drivers, electrical engineers, bus and truck mechanics and sales managers. December’s hardest-to-fill job postings by occupational family were the transportation and material moving, health care practitioners, technical and management occupations. All occupations were new to this month’s hardest-to-fill jobs list, except heavy truck drivers.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, December 2024 | Days to fill | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical engineers | 50 | 17 |
| Bus, truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | 48 | 14 |
| Sales managers | 42 | 20 |
| Tellers | 41 | 20 |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers | 41 | 16 |
| Nurse practictioners | 39 | 15 |
| Information security engineers | 39 | 12 |
| Critical care nurses | 37 | 13 |
| Project management specialists | 36 | 15 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 35 | 79 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
Regional news
- The Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium (IAEC) was awarded a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration through the Good Jobs Challenge program. IAEC’s Advanced Nuclear Workforce Ecosystem projects also received in-kind contributions of $1.8 million. The funds will support the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor tech hub regional workforce ecosystem, focused on accelerating the advanced nuclear energy industry. The funds will also be distributed among College of Eastern Idaho, Idaho State University, Idaho Workforce Development Council and Idaho National Laboratory to enhance nuclear technician training, nuclear trades curriculum and transitional workforce training opportunities. Source: Idaho Business Review
- The Teton Pass Shuttle, a project of Teton Backcountry Alliance, reported a record number of people so far this winter with skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and others utilizing its ride service to access the backcountry. Source: Buckrail
- Teton Regional Land Trust works across eastern Idaho to help protect natural spaces, agricultural lands and wildlife habitat through voluntary conservation easements on private land. The trust launched a new program to assist landowners of working agricultural lands with succession planning to keep working lands with new generations of agriculture producers. Source: Teton Valley News
- The Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) had another record year in 2024 as passenger traffic increased 12% year over year with 73% more passengers taking flights than in 2019. Five airlines currently service IDA, offering direct flights to nine cities. Source: KIFI and City of Idaho Falls
- According to mountain data from Natural Resources Conservation Services’ Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL), December precipitation data shows Lost River and Little Wood basins were the driest watersheds in Idaho at 80-85% of normal, and total water year precipitation ranged from 65-81% of normal. Snowpack in the Lost and Wood basins ranged from 80-110% of normal, which is better than January 2024 when snowpack was 50-60% of normal. December Salmon River basin precipitation was 80% of normal, and snowpack was 110% of normal. Mackay Reservoir was holding between 80-90% of its normal storage and 42% capacity. Source: Natural Resources Conservation Services
Bonneville County
- A new clinic, Transformative Journey Healthcare, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- Reframed Eye, an optometry clinic, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- After opening in mid-2023, Chip Cookies in Ammon permanently closed their business. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
- The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and/or groundbreaking ceremonies at United Way of Idaho Falls and Bonneville County, Reframed Eye and Bonneville County Sherriff’s Office. 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
- Industrial Ventilation Inc. in Idaho Falls was awarded a $9,000 STEP Year 11 grant by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Administered by Idaho Commerce, the grant is for foreign market sales trips, governor or foreign trade missions and international or domestic trade shows. Source: Idaho Commerce
- A firefighting team and fire engine from Swan Valley were part of 104 firefighters and 25 fire engines from Idaho mobilized to help fight the southern California wildfires. Source: KIFI
- Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office opened new special housing, medical and staff dining areas, in addition to wellness areas. Source: Post Register
- The Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors gifted $29,000 towards the Mayor’s Scholarship Fund. Source: KIFI
- Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge has been expanded by 2,496 acres after collaboration between the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a private landowner and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Source: Post Register
Custer County
- The expansion project of new classrooms and a library at Stanley School was completed ahead of schedule. Students moved back in from modular classrooms at the K-8 school. Source: Challis Messenger
- In 2024, the Challis Golf and Recreation Association invested $45,600 into Challis Golf Course, including $16,000 to expand the cart barn, $12,500 for a mower, $8,600 for equipment repairs, $4,000 on general maintenance and $4,000 on security cameras. Source: Challis Messenger
Jefferson County
- The 13,000 square-foot Drop 208 Pickleball Club opened in Rigby. Source: East Idaho News
Madison County
- Rink 99, an ice-skating and hockey establishment, opened in Sugar City. Source: East Idaho News
- Three food trucks — Corndog Company, Lemon Smashers and Dip Stix — consolidated into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- A new restaurant, Masala Indian Cuisine, opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- WinCo grocery store is building in a large new Rexburg development called Squires subdivision and will employ up to 200 people. Source: East Idaho News
- Going the way of automation, the C-A-L Ranch store in Rexburg is piloting a new inventory robot called Simbe’s Tally around the store for gathering restocking and pricing data. The store will implement robots at all 55 stores next year. C-A-L Ranch reports it’s not going to replace employees, but rather free them up for other tasks. Source: KIFI
- Rexburg Soup Kitchen is opening in town using an own-nothing model. It will prepare and serve food brought in by local pantries and locally contracted providers to feed 125 people a day. Source: KIFI
Teton County
- Summit School of the Arts purchased 4,000 square feet of commercial space at Arrowhead Plaza in Driggs. Source: Idaho Business Review
- The city of Victor land that was not included in the area of impact zoning in December, went back into county zoning. Many of the land parcels received different zoning outside of the area of impact. The new boundaries were reduced by 82% or 4,300 acres. This coincides with the utility logistics of the city and considers which parcels could be annexed in the next five years. The city kept similar zones surrounding each other to prevent urban sprawl and contrasting densities and to promote potential growth closer to the city with open spaces toward the foothills. Source: Teton Valley News
- The Teton County Agriculture Protection Areas Commission was established to help producers of agriculture register their land parcels as an Agricultural Protected Area to last 20 years at low cost and high benefit. Farm, ranch and forest land has been going to development because of the difficulty agriculturists have in passing down their land to family without subdividing it. Source: Teton Valley News
- City of Driggs projects for 2025 include new parks or enhancements to parks including Shoshoni Plains, Valley Centre and the skate park. They are also finalizing a master plan for a brand-new park called Woods Creek. Source: Teton Valley News
Eastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – December 2023 and 2024
- Generally, homes are sitting on the market much longer than they did this time last year in most east Idaho counties. Supply is also building up since the inventory of active listings in most local counties is also substantially more than it was this time last year. The only over-the-year price reductions in homes sold were in the three most rural counties and that was relatively very few homes sold. Otherwise, home prices have been holding steady in the region since last year.
| Median price sold | Dec-24 | Dec-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | $428,975 | $420,000 | 2.1% |
| Butte | $191,500 | $247,000 | -22.5% |
| Clark | $200,000 | $240,000 | -16.7% |
| Custer | $597,500 | $575,000 | 3.9% |
| Fremont | $750,000 | $699,000 | 7.3% |
| Jefferson | $498,000 | $495,000 | 0.6% |
| Lemhi | $530,000 | $600,000 | -11.7% |
| Madison | $408,725 | $379,900 | 7.6% |
| Teton | $995,000 | $649,500 | 53.2% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
| Active listings (inventory) | Dec-24 | Dec-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 385 | 320 | 20.3% |
| Butte | 14 | 21 | -33.3% |
| Clark | 1 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Custer | 35 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Fremont | 91 | 87 | 4.6% |
| Jefferson | 89 | 73 | 21.9% |
| Lemhi | 48 | 40 | 20.0% |
| Madison | 76 | 85 | -10.6% |
| Teton | 121 | 103 | 17.5% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Median days on market | Dec-24 | Dec-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 59 | 61 | -3.3% |
| Butte | 138 | 90 | 53.3% |
| Clark | 7 | 131 | -94.7% |
| Custer | 121 | 103 | 17.5% |
| Fremont | 131 | 103 | 27.2% |
| Jefferson | 86 | 78 | 10.3% |
| Lemhi | 105 | 121 | -13.2% |
| Madison | 89 | 54 | 64.8% |
| Teton | 104 | 90 | 15.6% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Total homes pending sale | Dec-24 | Dec-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 114 | 116 | -1.7% |
| Butte | 3 | 5 | -40.0% |
| Clark | 1 | 2 | -50.0% |
| Custer | 12 | 2 | 500.0% |
| Fremont | 17 | 18 | -5.6% |
| Jefferson | 27 | 27 | 0.0% |
| Lemhi | 6 | 2 | 200.0% |
| Madison | 25 | 17 | 47.1% |
| Teton | 44 | 58 | -24.1% |
| 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.
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.
Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for December 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had civilian labor force, total employment and total unemployment increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, December’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 8.5%, with 8.2% more employed people and 1.7% more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.7%, with no change from November 2024 and 0.5% higher than December 2023.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Dec-24 (P) | Nov-24 (R) | Dec-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 91,952 | 91,175 | 88,362 |
| Total employment | 88,507 | 87,787 | 85,561 |
| Unemployment | 3,445 | 3,388 | 2,801 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In December 2024, there were 1,150 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which decreased 12.9% from the prior month at 1,320 and 11.4% over the year at 1,298. The median job posting duration was 31 days, the same as November and increased one day from December 2023.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers, laborers, crop, nursery and greenhouse | 19 | 0 |
| Retail salespersons | 18 | 18 |
| Registered nurses | 15 | 32 |
| Heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers | 12 | 13 |
| Production workers and all other | 10 | 7 |
| Nursing assistants | 9 | 6 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 9 | 3 |
| Civil engineers | 8 | 2 |
| Tellers | 7 | 0 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 6 | 12 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for December were health care, sales and related and office administrative support occupations. Among specific occupations, farmworkers and greenhouse workers were at the top of the list with 19 unique online postings, followed by retail salespersons (19), registered nurses (15), civil engineers (8) and tellers (7).
| Top industries by job unique postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 50 | 47 |
| District health and medical insurance carriers | 16 | 13 |
| Other general government support | 15 | 10 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 12 | 8 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 11 | 20 |
| Frozen fruit, juice and vegetable manufacturing | 8 | 22 |
| Dried and dehydrated food manufacturing | 8 | 6 |
| Other snack food manufacturing | 7 | 10 |
| Cosmetics, beauty supplies and perfume retailers | 6 | 3 |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 6 | 4 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, finance and professional services are again at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in December. These top unique job postings were similar to December 2023: cosmetics increased by 100% and there was a 50% increase in government support, supermarkets and gas stations. Among postings with a decrease, there was a 64% drop in frozen fruit juice and vegetable manufacturing postings since last year.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho | Median duration, Dec-24 | Unique postings, Dec-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Tellers | 23 | 7 |
| First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | 21 | 4 |
| Security guards | 18 | 2 |
| Transportation, storage and distribution managers | 18 | 1 |
| Cardiologists | 18 | 1 |
| General and operations managers | 17 | 1 |
| Heating, air, conditioning, refrigeration mechanics and installers | 17 | 2 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 16 | 10 |
| Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services and travel | 16 | 1 |
| Purchasing managers | 16 | 1 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, office and administrative support occupations stood out in December, including tellers (23 days) and first-line supervisors of office workers (21 days). Tellers also just barely made the list of the most in demand occupations.
| County housing data, December 2024 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $390,000 | -1.24% | 75 | 303 |
| Bear Lake | $575,900 | -0.54% | 121 | 51 |
| Bingham | $398,750 | -4.20% | 70 | 122 |
| Caribou | $405,000 | 14.08% | 96 | 23 |
| Franklin | $488,250 | -14.27% | 84 | 38 |
| Oneida | $452,000 | 1.70% | 138 | 18 |
| Power | $379,000 | -2.57% | 103 | 19 |
| Source: Realtor.com Economic Research | ||||
- There was some negative price movement in December in most counties while there was a large increase in Caribou County and a large decrease in Franklin. The county with the longest median time on the market was Oneida County at 138 days. Power County had the lowest median listing price in the region while Bingham was the hottest with the lowest median of 70 days on the market, an increase from 52 days as moves slowed due to the holidays.
Regional news
Bannock County
- Pocatello Police announced its acquisition of $102,000 in license plate readers from Flock Safety to be installed around the city. The readers will capture license plate numbers and vehicle information to aid in investigations such as robbery, murder, theft and missing persons. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center opened for the season. Activities include skiing and snowshoeing. Source: KIFI News
- Blades Salon and Spa in Pocatello held a fundraiser assisting a salon employee to finance the adoption of her niece. Around one third of the $3,000 required was raised. Source: KIFI News
- The Pocatello Naval Ordinance Plant is being converted to Idaho’s largest indoor soccer field. Source: East Idaho News
- Summit Commercial Real Estate of Boise announced their client, Raising Canes, is poised to open a new restaurant in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Pocatello Car Club achieved nonprofit status and now seeks to construct motorsport complexes in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Tender Loving Childcare, a nonprofit daycare in Pocatello, is seeking community donations after it was almost closed due to lack of funding. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Lava Hot Springs Senior center is seeking funds ahead of its 90th birthday in 2026. Rocky Mountain Power presented a $4,500 grant for new windows. Source: KIFI News
- The Pocatello-Chubbuck School District held a public hearing to discuss declining enrollment and the potential of school closures. The district voted to close Washington Elementary on Jan. 21. Source: KIFI News, Idaho State Journal
- Idaho State University received a $415,000 grant for genetic disorder research such as 3MC Syndrome. Source: ISU News
- The third annual Pike Fest was held at Zoo Idaho in Pocatello. Visitors enjoyed cider and beer as the animals relaxed for a winter nap. Funds from the event will go towards the animals and facilities. Source: KIFI News, KPVI News
- The 18th annual Sportsmen Against Hunger event was held at the C-A-L Ranch Chubbuck. Last year, the event raised over $3,000 for the Idaho Foodbank. Source: Idaho Fish and Game
- The U.S. Department of Education provided a $4.5 million grant to Idaho State University to provide financial assistance to psychology majors. Source: East Idaho News
- Big Lots in Pocatello closed. Source: East Idaho News
Bear Lake County
- The cellphone ban, by the Bear Lake School District in 2024, has resulted in staff reporting mental health and socialization improvements among students. Interviewed students were of mixed opinion saying art classes are more difficult without image references from their phones while others reported improved mental health and focus. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bear Lake Furniture Company, in Montpelier city, was purchased by Azdyn Bartschi and his wife, Daesha. They plan to shorten the name to just Bear Lake Furniture and extend the business hours to be regular instead of appointment only. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bingham County
- The Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission met to hear arguments for a conditional permit to begin gravel mining. Source: KIFI News
- The Blackfoot Animal Shelter and Rescue received a $100,000 grant from the Shoshone Bannock tribes. Source: KPVI News
Caribou County
- The Bureau of Land Management sought public opinion on the new proposed Caldwell Canyon Phosphate Mine. The revised proposal comes after a federal judge blocked the previous deal citing concerns about sage grouse and violating the National Environmental Policy Act. Source: Bureau of Land Management, Center for Biological Diversity
- The Caribou Medical Center in the city of Soda Springs held a baby expo to showcase the hospital’s maternity wing remodel and to hold classes for expectant mothers. Source: The News Examiner
- Kaylee Peck of Soda Springs opened a new equine insurance firm. Source: The News Examiner
Franklin County
- The town of Oxford was disincorporated into Franklin County. The 40 residents of the town had struggled to fill city council positions, plough roads and grappled with the lack of sewer and water supply. Residents hope this move will help to manage and preserve the small but historic town. Source: The Preston Citizen
Oneida County
- The new Malad Elementary School opened its doors in January. This opened a new chapter for the city, as the old elementary is slated for demolition. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- The Power County Youth Center celebrated its history and discussed its future. They are seeking donations and community support to find a permanent location, as they have been renting the basement of the United Methodist Church. Source: Idaho State Journal
- A new online business, Rugged Peach Workwear based in American Falls, offers high visibility safety shirts for pregnant women in manufacturing. 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.
Regional labor market information
- Labor demand in south central Idaho decreased in December 2024, with a total of 2,036 unique job postings in the region, a 19% decrease from 2,527 unique postings in November. The unemployment rate remained flat at 3.6% from November to December. The unemployment rate has increased 0.5% from December 2023. Total employment has increased 1.9% over the past year.
| South central Idaho seasonally adjusted data | Dec-24 (P) | Nov-24 (R) | Dec-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 108,356 | 108,182 | 105,778 |
| Total employment | 104,417 | 104,215 | 102,450 |
| Unemployment | 3,939 | 3,967 | 3,328 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary | R – Revised | B – Benchmarked |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 85 | 67 |
| Registered nurses | 76 | 92 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 73 | 83 |
| Farmworkers, laborers, crop, nursery and greenhouse | 57 | 16 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 48 | 41 |
| General and operations managers | 40 | 26 |
| Laborers, freight, stocker, material movers and hand | 36 | 35 |
| Cashiers | 35 | 54 |
| Maintenance, repair workers and general | 35 | 28 |
| Customer service representatives | 32 | 42 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 314 | 286 |
| Health care and social assistance | 304 | 280 |
| Manufacturing | 275 | 228 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 99 | 20 |
| Construction | 83 | 32 |
| Finance and insurance | 81 | 54 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 73 | 97 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 67 | 61 |
| Educational services | 67 | 21 |
| Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services | 65 | 34 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
- Job postings for construction, educational services, and other services (except public administration) increased 159%, 219% and 395% respectively over the year. Job openings for professional, scientific and technical services decreased 25% over the year.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in south central Idaho | Days to fill, Dec-24 | Days to fill, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators | 59 | N/A |
| Actors | 59 | N/A |
| Computer programmers | 58 | N/A |
| Occupational therapy aides | 57 | 9 |
| Occupational health and safety technicians | 54 | 7 |
| Nursing assistants | 49 | 24 |
| Stationary engineers and boiler operators | 49 | N/A |
| First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services | 49 | N/A |
| Pharmacists | 48 | N/A |
| Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary | 47 | 27 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
Blaine County
- The Forest Service has entered a 99-year lease to develop workforce housing on an almost two-acre lot, specifics of the agreement are currently not publicly available. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Minidoka County
- A company that will produce plastic pipes used in construction and farming, Pipeline Plastics, broke ground on a factory in Rupert. Pipeline Plastics has factories in Texas, North Carolina and South Dakota. Fifty employees will be on site, with the factory expected to open in fall 2025. Source: KMVT
Closings
- Johnny Carino’s – Twin Falls
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.
Regional news
Nez Perce County
- Clearwater Paper is laying off 23 Lewiston employees and eliminating approximately 50 additional vacant positions. The layoffs are potentially the result of high operating costs combined with soft paperboard prices. The company experienced significant unplanned operating losses in 2024 that include the January deep freeze event (resulting in operational losses exceeding $15 million, of which $10.5 million was covered by insurance proceeds) and a $322,000 civil penalty imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency for unreported chlorine releases throughout 2019-2021. Source: Lewiston Tribune, Clearwater Paper
Idaho County
- The Idaho County Probations Office Annual Juvenile Justice Report listed 44 juvenile felonies in 2024 compared to 12 in 2023. Idaho County does not currently have any facilities to hold juveniles and pays Nez Perce County for the use of its jail. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- Elite Heating and Cooling in Grangeville will be expanding its offerings to include plumbing services and installations in spring 2025. Source: Elite Heating and Cooling
- Elk City experienced a three-day power outage as a result of a fallen tree. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- The City of Kooskia had a record of 375 ambulance responses in 2024. By comparison, there were 252 responses in 2020, 309 responses in 2021 and 354 in 2022. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- Free online American Sign Language classes are being offered to the Riggins community through Oklahoma School for the Deaf from February-June 2025. Source: Idaho County Free Press
Latah County
- The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit that claims investment firm KKR did not comply with antitrust laws in its 2021 acquisition of EMSI. After the acquisition, KKR consolidated EMSI and Burning Glass into the company now known as Lightcast. The suit highlights that KKR failed to file 28 premerger documents, allowing the company to close transactions without appropriate government review. Source: Lewiston Tribune, U.S. Justice Department
- The University of Idaho is launching an energy institute with a program focus on cybersecurity, sustainability and global energy systems. The institute will operate within the College of Engineering and will offer certificates, minors and full degree programs. The institute will work to expand partnerships with local electricity providers. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Gritman Medical Center has two construction projects in process – a new central sterile room for its surgical instruments and a fifth operating room within the surgery department. The total project cost is estimated at $5 million and will be paid through tax-exempt revenue bonds. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Viola Water and Sewer District was awarded a $35,000 planning grant by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The remaining $35,000 will be funded by the city. Source: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
- The City of Juliaetta is accepting bids for the new wastewater treatment plant. Source: City of Juliaetta
- The City of Moscow Fire Department responded to a record high 3,002 incidents throughout 2024. This includes 2,208 emergency medical services and 794 fire incidents. There was also a 10% rise from 2023 and a 6% increase from the previous record of 2,828 calls in 2021. Source: City of Moscow
- One Palouse (also known as Palouse Knowledge Corridor) has dissolved operations after serving as a resource hub for local entrepreneurs over the last three years. The nonprofit was a combination of economic development entities representing both Latah County in Idaho and Whitman County in Washington. A nonprofit located in Spokane, Washington will continue to operate the Inland Northwest Connect website. Source: Latah County Commissioners
Clearwater County
- Orofino’s Clearwater Community Complex will soon be under construction with an estimated completion date of 2026. The $4.9 million complex will replace the existing pool with an eight-lane competition pool and a recreation and lesson pool. The project is being funded through donations, grants and sponsorships. Source: Clearwater Progress
- Orofino School District #171 was awarded a $24,000 grant to be directed toward child nutrition and technology updates. The funding will be used for an upgraded warehouse security system, monitor and audio system for the Timberline cafeteria and renewal of software licenses related to the menu planning program. Source: Clearwater Tribune
- U.S. Bank will be closing its Orofino location by April 30. U.S. Bank currently operates 49 locations throughout Idaho, including nearby Lewiston, Moscow and Grangeville. Source: U.S. Bank
Lewis County
- American Freedom Defense of Greencreek acquired Prairie Imperial Bowl in Craigmont. Prairie Imperial Bowl will operate under the new name of AFD Alley. Source: American Freedom Defense
- Going forward, the level of Winchester Lake will be three feet lower than usual due to removal of breakaway walls on the Winchester Lake Dam spillway. The dam and spillway are scheduled to be updated over the next five years and return the lake to normal levels at that time. Source: Idaho Fish and Game
- Upriver Youth Leadership Council was granted a $10,000 Mini-Grant from the Idaho State Liquor Division to implement a Virtual Reality Alcohol Awareness Program. The program will educate youth about the risks of underage and excessive drinking through engaging virtual reality experiences. Source: Upriver Youth Leadership Council
Openings
- The Mango Tree restaurant, Lewiston
- Advantage Advertising is under new ownership, Lewiston
- Shattuck Brewery of Elk River opened Shattuck West taproom, Moscow
- First Bank of Pizza and Pastry opened under new ownership, Juliaetta
- Johnson’s General Store, Potlatch
- Numberz LLC bookkeeping services, Orofino
- Mama Bear Daycare, Lewiston
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.
Regional labor market information
- Labor demand in northern Idaho increased slightly in December 2024, with a total of 1,338 unique job postings in the region – an increase from 1,299 jobs in November. Increase is consistent with past seasonal trends, however labor demand is higher than it was at the same time last year, when postings totaled 1,282 jobs in December 2023. The unemployment rate increased slightly from 4.7% to 4.8% and remains higher than in December 2023. Both the total labor force and total employment remain above their 2023 levels.
| Northern Idaho seasonally adjusted data | Dec-24 (P) | Nov-24 (R) | Dec-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 130,789 | 129,172 | 127,946 |
| Total employment | 124,474 | 123,097 | 122,592 |
| Unemployment | 6,315 | 6,075 | 5,354 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.2% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in northern Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered salespersons | 75 | 44 |
| Registered nurses | 61 | 79 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 42 | 38 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 38 | 22 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 36 | 18 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 32 | 19 |
| Unclassified occupation | 28 | 51 |
| Janitors and cleaners | 25 | 20 |
| Customer service representatives | 25 | 32 |
| Medical and health services managers | 24 | 16 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in northern Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 274 | 196 |
| Retail trade | 174 | 153 |
| Administrative and support services | 113 | 121 |
| Accommodation and food services | 77 | 99 |
| Construction | 55 | 29 |
| Finance and insurance | 51 | 79 |
| Manufacturing | 47 | 59 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 47 | 50 |
| Wholesale trade | 45 | 39 |
| Public administration | 37 | 59 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in northern Idaho | Median duration, Dec-24 | Median duration, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Civil engineers | 23 | N/A |
| Maintenance, repair workers and general | 20 | N/A |
| Health care social workers | 18 | N/A |
| Pharmacy technicians | 17 | N/A |
| Nurse practitioners | 17 | N/A |
| Driver and sales workers | 17 | N/A |
| Skincare specialists | 17 | N/A |
| Project management specialists | 16 | N/A |
| Cooks and fast food workers | 16 | N/A |
| School psychologists | 16 | N/A |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
Regional news
- A joint Spokane-Coeur d’Alene aerospace tech hub has received $48 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce. A consortium made up of more than 50 public and private sector organizations in Spokane and northern Idaho, including labor and workforce organizations, local governments, educational institutions and manufacturers applied for a first round of federal funding for the tech hub. The organizations failed to make the initial list of 12 projects to be funded in the first round. However, the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene tech hub was among the six projects selected for funding in the second round. Source: Journal of Business
- Despite a relatively snowless and warm winter at lower elevations, significant precipitation in northern Idaho is expected to end the region’s two-year drought. According to the Idaho Department of Water Resources, the mountain snow water equivalent was 135% of normal in the northern Panhandle. After two years of significant drought, the ongoing wet winter is expected to bring an end to drought conditions. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
Kootenai County
- Heritage Health is consolidating and moving its operations to a larger new facility in Coeur d’Alene. The nonprofit provider offers medical, dental and behavioral health services to almost 26,000 patients across northern Idaho. The provider also currently operates 12 clinic locations across the region. Roughly half of Heritage Health’s 360 employees will work out of the new facility. Some services will move in January, while others – including pediatrics, dental and pharmacy – will move in 2026. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- Construction will begin soon on the new Sherman Tower hotel in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The 15-story hotel will offer 139 rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and office space. The Sherman Tower is expected to open in the spring of 2027. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- Work is resuming ahead of schedule to complete a traffic improvement project on Government Way in Coeur d’Alene. Thanks to a relatively snowless winter, work on the corridor improvement (which was scheduled to resume in the spring) is currently underway. The project includes upgrades to signaling and pedestrian ramps at 10 different intersections. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- The Macy’s department store in Coeur d’Alene’s Silver Lake Mall will be closing this year, per an announcement from the company. The planned closure will shutter the last of the mall’s chain department store anchor tenants, after the closure of Sears in 2018 and JCPenny in 2021. Source: Journal of Business
Openings
- Taco Bell (Post Falls)
- Madd Chicken (Coeur d’Alene)
- Athol Dental Implants (Athol)
- Boiada Brazilian Grill (Coeur d’Alene)
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.
Regional labor market information
Southwestern Idaho’s single-family home sales – November 2023 and 2024
| Median price sold | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | $525,000 | $530,000 | -0.9% |
| Adams | $267,500 | $600,000 | -55.4% |
| Boise | $550,000 | $415,000 | 32.5% |
| Canyon | $414,995 | $398,990 | 4.0% |
| Elmore | $372,500 | $325,000 | 14.6% |
| Gem | $441,780 | $415,000 | 6.5% |
| Owyhee | $389,000 | $610,000 | -36.2% |
| Payette | $360,000 | $372,599 | -3.4% |
| Valley | $792,870 | $732,500 | 8.2% |
| Washington | $318,560 | $285,000 | 11.8% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1b.
| Days on market | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 42 | 41 | 2.4% |
| Adams | 60 | 65 | -7.7% |
| Boise | 73 | 55 | 32.7% |
| Canyon | 58 | 42 | 38.1% |
| Elmore | 81 | 31 | 161.3% |
| Gem | 68 | 52 | 30.8% |
| Owyhee | 54 | 62 | -12.9% |
| Payette | 64 | 56 | 14.3% |
| Valley | 84 | 79 | 6.3% |
| Washington | 57 | 19 | 200.0% |
| Regional average days | 64 | 50 | 27.7% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1c.
| Inventory | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 1,527 | 1,363 | 12.0% |
| Adams | 30 | 23 | 30.4% |
| Boise | 92 | 50 | 84.0% |
| Canyon | 1,008 | 840 | 20.0% |
| Elmore | 107 | 74 | 44.6% |
| Gem | 97 | 77 | 26.0% |
| Owyhee | 33 | 28 | 17.9% |
| Payette | 109 | 90 | 21.1% |
| Valley | 130 | 102 | 27.5% |
| Washington | 43 | 38 | 13.2% |
| Regional totals | 3,176 | 2,685 | 18.3% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1d.
| Total homes sold | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 660 | 528 | 25.0% |
| Adams | 6 | 3 | 100.0% |
| Boise | 9 | 19 | -52.6% |
| Canyon | 390 | 291 | 34.0% |
| Elmore | 26 | 27 | -3.7% |
| Gem | 24 | 17 | 41.2% |
| Owyhee | 5 | 5 | 0% |
| Payette | 37 | 32 | 15.6% |
| Valley | 20 | 16 | 25.0% |
| Washington | 14 | 7 | 100.0% |
| SW sold and % change | 1,191 | 945 | 26.0% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
| Nov-23 | Nov-24 | % change | # change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unique postings | 9,199 | 7,276 | -20.9% | -1,923 |
| Days posted | 11 | 22 | 100.0% | 11 |
| Number of employers | 2,332 | 1,859 | -20.3% | -473 |
| Advertised wage | $21.23 | $28.00 | 31.9% | $6.77 |
| Share wage advertisements | 43% | 51% | 18.6% | 8% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southwestern Idaho | Postings, Nov-24 | Postings, Nov-23 | Year over year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 204 | 197 | 3.6% |
| Registered nurses | 263 | 364 | -27.7% |
| Customer service representatives | 119 | 187 | -36.4% |
| Computer occupations, all other | 261 | 170 | 53.5% |
| Sales representatives, wholesale, manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 181 | 147 | 23.1% |
| Software developers | 228 | 102 | 123.5% |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 132 | 132 | 0% |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 96 | 113 | -15.0% |
| Project management specialists | 65 | 64 | 1.6% |
| Fast food and counter workers | 56 | 93 | -39.8% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
Regional news
Ada County
- The U.S. Treasury’s Social Impact Partnership to Pay for Results Act awarded $6.6 million to the city of Boise, one of six communities that received this grant. It will supplement the city’s initiative to build and sustain 250 new homes for individuals to transition out of homelessness. The initiative and the new funding will be incorporated into the cooperative effort of the Supportive Housing Investment Fund (SHIF) which works with the Idaho Community Foundation. The city has already contributed $7.5 million in seed funding to SHIF, ultimately supporting 143 homes towards the goal of 250 homes. New Path Community Housing has already reported over $8.8 million in cost savings for the program’s first five years. Idaho Policy Institute will receive an additional $1 million for independently monitoring the outcome of the funding and tracking the continued savings. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Alaska Airlines started direct flights to Bozeman, Montana, and Orange County, California. The Bozeman flight will be offered five times weekly through mid-March and is Boise’s only direct flight to Montana. Meanwhile, Avelo Airlines dropped flights between Boise and Hollywood Burbank Airport due to competition from Southwest and Alaska Airlines. Source: Idaho Press and Idaho Statesman
- The Boise Bicycle Project gave away 634 bikes to kids under the age of 11 for Christmas. There is a block party for the distribution of bikes to the children complete with a chance to get helmets, locks, lights and a riding course with mentoring from volunteers. Volunteers also dedicated the previous year to fixing up the donated bikes, so they are safe and shiny for the new rider. Source: Idaho News 6
- City of Good and Create Common Good signed an agreement to combine resources under the City of Good umbrella. There will be no layoffs or staff reductions as the current combined payroll is 15 people with plans to hire more. The City of Good started in 2020 paying the out of work restaurant workforce to make meals for those in need. It then broadened to providing a weekend’s worth of fresh food to elementary school kids who were experiencing food scarcity. Create Common Good was established in 2008 to provide food service training and placement to refugees, women escaping domestic violence and people overcoming addiction. It also works with the Idaho Department of Correction to help those recently released from prison transition back into society. There is sufficient commonality between the two nonprofits to see some efficiencies and reductions in expenses as they share staff, equipment, vehicles, kitchens, infrastructure and development plans. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Boise State University closed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center and is transitioning to a new Student Connections and Support Center. The center will have the same staff with just a different name and broader mission. There will be a new program to assist first-generation college students in all areas of growth including academic, career and personal. The center will provide a campus clothing closet with case management available, along with crisis intervention services, assistance in reporting acts of violence and resources for navigating campus life. Source: KTVB News
- West Ada School District employees are now required to report allegations of discrimination or harassment. This occurred after parents pushed for the mandatory requirement. Source: Idaho Education News
Canyon County
- Caldwell School District has hired Eagle Eye Security, a private security contractor, to provide services to its middle schools and high school. The trustees voted to allow the officers to carry pepper spray, tasers and rifles to protect the students. Formerly, the school district had sufficient funding to hire Caldwell Police Department officers as staff school resource officers. Source: KTVB News
Gem County
- Numerous county offices will be relocated to the former Emmett Community Bible Church as it constructs a new place of worship. The chambers for the county commissioners, the county assessor, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the planning and zoning will be co-located in the space after construction of the church is complete and potential renovations are approved. This allows the county to combine services under one roof. Source: Emmett Messenger Index
Openings
- KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot opened its all-you-can-eat restaurant in Meridian in the former Sizzler location. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Nara Ramen opened its fifth location in the Treasure Valley, this time in Meridian at the former Homestead Bar and Grill venue. Source: Idaho Statesman
Closures
- Biscuit & Hogs closed its Meridian location with a sign on the door stating it was permanently closed. Source: Idaho Statesman
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.
Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for November 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics have both total employment and unemployment increasing in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, November’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 324 people, with 116 more employed people and 208 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region increased to 3.1% since last month and is 0.6 percentage points higher than November 2023.
| Eastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Nov-24 (P) | Oct-24 (P) | Nov-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 133,100 | 132,776 | 129,487 |
| Total employment | 128,800 | 128,684 | 126,093 |
| Unemployment | 4,300 | 4,092 | 3,394 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.6 |
| P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked Source: Idaho Department of Labor |
|||
- There were an estimated 941 unique, deduplicated job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for November 2024, according to The Conference Board: Help Wanted Online. (This is regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data.) The 941 postings are a 25% decrease from 1,259 the prior month, but a 2% increase from 922 year over year. Registered nurses remained the top occupation of unique job postings in the region for November. New to the top occupations by quantity of job postings this month were merchandise displayers, software developers, maintenance repair workers, computer programmers and mental health counselors. Employer hiring demand based on quantity of job postings did not increase for any occupations since last month. Job postings decreased for all other carryover occupations from the month prior, including 52% for heavy truck drivers, 51% for retail salespersons and 20% for registered nurses.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, November 2024 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 45 |
| Retail salespersons | 27 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 21 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 21 |
| Hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers | 21 |
| Software developers | 19 |
| Customer service representatives | 19 |
| General maintenance and repair workers | 16 |
| Computer programmers | 15 |
| Mental health counselors | 12 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- Finance and insurance replaced educational services in the top five of regional industries by quantity of job postings this month. Industry hiring demand by job postings increased over the month by 35% in finance and insurance and by 11% in public administration industries. Job postings decreased over the month by 45% in educational services, 41% in professional, scientific and technical services, 30% in waste management and remediation, 37% in construction, 20% in transportation and warehousing, 19% in wholesale trade and 16% in health care and social assistance industries.
| Top industries by job unique postings in eastern Idaho, November 2024 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 147 |
| Finance and insurance | 100 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 98 |
| Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services | 84 |
| Retail trade | 75 |
| Manufacturing | 62 |
| Wholesale trade | 50 |
| Construction | 40 |
| Educational services | 40 |
| Public administration | 36 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 20 |
| Accommodation and food services | 19 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- November data on the hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, by 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 November by occupational family were health care practitioners and technical and management. All occupations were new to this month’s hardest-to-fill jobs list, except accountants, general and operations managers and registered nurses.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, November 2024 | Days to fill | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 24 | 21 |
| Registered nurses | 23 | 45 |
| General and operations managers | 18 | 10 |
| Accountants and auditors | 18 | 9 |
| Cashiers | 17 | 9 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | 17 | 5 |
| Stockers and order fillers | 16 | 5 |
| Driver and sales workers | 13 | 12 |
| Retail salespersons | 9 | 27 |
| Physical therapists | 7 | 9 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
Regional news
- According to Natural Resources Conservation Services mountain data from SNOTEL, the five runoff basins that comprise eastern Idaho have an average year-to-date snow water equivalent measuring 82% of median, but only 68% of median for average year-to-date precipitation. Source: Natural Resources Conservation Services
- The U.S. Small Business Administration issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration to aid businesses impacted by wildfires, including the Bench Lake and Wapiti Fires that began July 11. This makes assistance available in Butte, Custer and Lemhi counties to offset economic losses. Source: U.S. Small Business Administration
- A new memorandum of understanding between Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Idaho State University begins collaborative research in critical and strategic minerals and materials, as well as environmental sustainability and security. This research involves the study and development of materials vital to technology and industrial processes that are also at risk of supply disruptions. Some of these critical minerals are mined in eastern Idaho. Environmental sustainability research will include carbon reduction, sequestration and storage technologies, digitization and artificial intelligence, geothermal energy, as well as spent fuel storage and disposition. Sources: INL and Post Register
- Allegiant Airlines is adding a new stop to Denver from Idaho Falls Regional Airport starting May 2025. Source: KIFI
Bonneville County
- Cielito Lindo, a new Mexican restaurant, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- The Christmas Caboose, an old train caboose present along a riverbank in Idaho Falls for decades, has been turned into a seasonal drive-thru treat shop. Source: East Idaho News
- Bumble and Bleat, a soap boutique, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Falls Magazine
- A speakeasy called Soiled Dove opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- JB’s Soda Barn in Idaho Falls is permanently closing. Source: East Idaho News
- The city of Idaho Falls completed the entire citywide fiber network for residential use ahead of schedule. Installation teams invented technology and designed ground-boring equipment to minimize above-ground digging. Construction totaled $45 million. There are currently over 8,500 customers using the network and six service providers. On average there are 200-300 new installations per month. Source: City of Idaho Falls
- The four-acre Gem Prep Charter School lot in Ammon’s Bridgewater neighborhood was sold to Caliber Customs for construction of 17 townhomes. The zoning was previously designated as parks, schools and churches but is now zoned as residential. Source: Post Register
- The city of Idaho Falls accepted a $2.6 million bid to construct a new fire station on the north side of the city. Source: Post Register
- The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and/or groundbreaking ceremonies at Kid to Kid, Idaho Falls Festival of Trees and Candy Cane Lane. 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
Custer County
- The Challis City Council went ahead with preliminary plat approval for the Centerra Park subdivision to develop 14 new single-family homes for workers employed at Thompson Creek Mine. The single large lot owned by Thompson Creek will be subdivided into quarter to a half-acre lots and sold. Source: Challis Messenger
- A 10-year federal permit was issued to Electra, a mining company in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, for 91 copper and cobalt locations and hundreds of potential drill targets, strengthening domestic critical mineral production needed for electric vehicle batteries. Source: Challis Messenger
Fremont County
- Fremont County Joint School District 251 has announced upgrades to career technical education classrooms and a new greenhouse to support culinary arts, big game processing, agricultural education, industrial technology and management programs. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
- The city of Ashton approved a new city code officially allowing for short-term rentals in residential areas with initial and annual registration fees. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
Jefferson County
- The former business owners of Thrifty Nickel, which shuttered in September, opened a new establishment called Innovative Ink, a printshop in Menan. Source: East Idaho News
- Mountain Top Print Shop, a custom printing business, opened in Rigby. Source: East Idaho News
- Sweet Swirls ice cream shop opened in Rigby. Source: East Idaho News
- Post Holdings, Inc., a St. Louis firm, is acquiring Rigby-based Potato Products of Idaho LLC who employ 163 workers to manufacture, and package refrigerated and frozen potato products. Source: Post Holdings press release
- Kelly Canyon ski resort opened for the season. They now boast three snowmaking guns, new power and a retention pond. They have also installed a new triple-seat chair lift. Their 10-year plan includes new lodging, another ski lift, zip lines and a mountain coaster. Source: Post Register
Madison County
- Links Indoor Golf opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Rexburg city council approved the Adara at Teton Lakes subdivision plat. The development is 62 acres and will contain 157 building lots. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
Teton County
- The Idaho Supreme Court ruled in favor of Teton Creek Resort, LLC in their case with Teton County, allowing the resort to move forward with plans to record its condominium plat and obtain necessary building permits. Source: Teton Valley News
Eastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – November 2023 and 2024
Figure 5.| Median price sold | Nov-24 | Nov-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | $445,000 | $417,450 | 6.6% |
| Butte | $192,500 | $258,000 | -25.4% |
| Clark | $245,000 | $212,500 | 15.3% |
| Custer | $499,950 | $625,000 | -20.0% |
| Fremont | $750,000 | $687,000 | 9.2% |
| Jefferson | $525,000 | $516,250 | 1.7% |
| Lemhi | $555,000 | $665,500 | -16.6% |
| Madison | $399,000 | $399,000 | 0% |
| Teton | $995,000 | $818,500 | 21.6% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
| Active listings (inventory) | Nov-24 | Nov-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 397 | 340 | 16.8% |
| Butte | 16 | 23 | -30.4% |
| Clark | 1 | 2 | -50.0% |
| Custer | 46 | 31 | 48.4% |
| Fremont | 114 | 101 | 12.9% |
| Jefferson | 106 | 85 | 24.7% |
| Lemhi | 53 | 44 | 20.5% |
| Madison | 95 | 95 | 0% |
| Teton | 137 | 102 | 32.4% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Median days on market | Nov-24 | Nov-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 57 | 47 | 21.3% |
| Butte | 108 | 84 | 28.6% |
| Clark | 16 | 75 | -78.7% |
| Custer | 97 | 101 | -4.0% |
| Fremont | 116 | 92 | 26.1% |
| Jefferson | 73 | 68 | 7.4% |
| Lemhi | 99 | 108 | -8.3% |
| Madison | 80 | 80 | 0% |
| Teton | 117 | 94 | 24.5% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Total homes pending sale | Nov-24 | Nov-23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 167 | 145 | 15.2% |
| Butte | 3 | 3 | 0% |
| Clark | 1 | 2 | -50.0% |
| Custer | 6 | 4 | 50.0% |
| Fremont | 30 | 20 | 50.0% |
| Jefferson | 39 | 38 | 2.6% |
| Lemhi | 12 | 4 | 200.0% |
| Madison | 31 | 31 | 0% |
| Teton | 54 | 40 | 35.0% |
| 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.
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.
Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for November 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics saw both the civilian labor force and total employment number decreasing and total unemployment rate increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, November’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants decreasing by 21 people, with 148 less employed people and 127 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.7%, a 0.1% increase from October 2024 and 0.5% higher than November 2023.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Nov-24 (P) | Oct-24 (R) | Nov-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 91,292 | 91,313 | 88,629 |
| Total employment | 87,911 | 88,059 | 85,809 |
| Unemployment | 3,381 | 3,254 | 2,820 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In November 2024, there were 1,316 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which decreased 15% from the prior month at 1,557 and 8% over the year at 1,433. The median job posting duration was 31 days, an increase of two days from October and an increase of seven days from November 2023.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Nov-24 | Postings, Nov-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 19 | 28 |
| Retail salespersons | 19 | 18 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 13 | 9 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 12 | 7 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 11 | 9 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general | 10 | 10 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 8 | 16 |
| Food service managers | 8 | 0 |
| Cashiers | 7 | 3 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 7 | 8 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for November were sales and related, health care and management occupations. Among specific occupations, registered nurses were at the top of the list with 19 unique online postings, followed by retail salespersons (19), first line retail supervisors (13), merchandise displayers (12) and hand material movers (11).
| Top industries by job unique postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Nov-24 | Postings, Nov-23 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 43 | 49 |
| District health and medical insurance carriers | 14 | 18 |
| Commercial and institutional building construction | 13 | 10 |
| Clothing and clothing accessories retailers | 12 | 4 |
| Other general government support | 11 | 8 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 10 | 15 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 9 | 14 |
| Stationary and office supplies merchant wholesalers | 8 | 0 |
| Commercial banking | 7 | 5 |
| Full-service restaurants | 7 | 0 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, finance and professional services are at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in November. These top unique job postings were similar to November 2023 but broadly decreased since last year: hospitals decreased by 12%, insurance by 22%, colleges by 33% and supermarkets by 36%. Large increases were still observed in clothing retailers by 200% and construction by 30%.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho | Median duration, Nov-24 | Unique postings, Nov-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Home health and personal care aides | 28 | 19 |
| Purchasing managers | 28 | 0 |
| Parts salespersons | 26 | 0 |
| Court, municipal and license clerks | 25 | 0 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 23 | 4 |
| Financial risk specialists | 23 | 0 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 22 | 0 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 22 | 5 |
| Dishwashers | 22 | 13 |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers | 17 | 0 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, management and business and finance occupations stood out in November, including purchasing managers (28 days) and financial risk specialists (23 days). Registered nurses had a median posting duration of zero days with 19 postings in November —indicating the positions are being filled rapidly.
| County housing data, November 2024 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $394,900 | -1.25% | 74 | 323 |
| Bear Lake | $579,000 | 0.13% | 100 | 62 |
| Bingham | $416,250 | 1.57% | 52 | 123 |
| Caribou | $355,000 | 1.43% | 112 | 30 |
| Franklin | $569,500 | 0.24% | 93 | 42 |
| Oneida | $444,450 | 1.24% | 110 | 22 |
| Power | $389,000 | 0% | 71 | 20 |
| Source: Realtor.com Economic Research | ||||
- There was some negative price movement in November in Bannock County while there were increases in Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin and Oneida. Power County median home prices remained the same. The county with the longest median time on the market was Caribou County at 112 days. Power County had the lowest median listing price in the region while Bingham was the hottest with the lowest median of 52 days on the market.
Regional news
Bannock County
- Puerto Vallarta Mexican restaurant held its ninth annual free Thanksgiving community dinner. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Chubbuck Lions, a civic organization, held its “Graysgiving” event in Sacajawea Park to raise money for the Special Needs Christmas Dinner in December. Source: KPVI News
- The Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho performed a $50,000 operation to repair a local Pocatello man’s teeth as a part of their annual promotion. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Portneuf Cancer Center held a ribbon cutting for their new Varian True Beam Linear Accelerator. This machine is the main tool for radiation oncologists to fight various types of cancer. Before this change, patients from Pocatello would have to travel a distance for this treatment, usually to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. Source: KPVI News
- Portneuf Health announced Nate Carter, previously serving as the interim CEO, will now be the official CEO for the hospital. Source: East Idaho News
- The Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25, as a part of their new committee to address enrollment, is discussing the closure of Washington Elementary School as enrollment decreases and maintenance fees increase. Total enrollment in the district decreased by 1,000 students compared to seven years ago, 740 students of which have been in elementary schools. In response, there was a march in protest for the suggested change comprised of students, teachers and families from Caldwell Park to the school. Source: Idaho State Journal, KIFI News
- Barrie’s Ski and Sports received $1,600 from two local children to contribute to their annual food drive. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The metal and punk concert in downtown Pocatello, Mosh for Santa, was held for the benefit of the Southeast Idaho Toys for Tots program. The concert has raised $20,000 in its six-year history. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Portneuf Valley Brewing held a craft fair event to showcase local handmade products including pottery, blankets and hand-blown glass. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bicycles for Recovery, in conjunction with the Friendship Club and Center of Hope South, is seeking funding from grants and private donation to provide bicycles for those struggling with mental health and addiction. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The annual Christmas Night Lights Parade was held in Pocatello. Source: KIFI News
- The Ladies Holiday Tea event was held for a third year in Pocatello’s Juniper Hills Country Club to benefit local charities. Events included an auction, raffle, lunch and fashion show while attendees raised $8,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of southeast Idaho and the Gate City Singers. Source: KPVI News
- Idaho State University intends to sell the Magnuson Alumni House due to the high cost of maintenance. The school intends to work with Colliers Real Estate to find a potential buyer. The property is expected to be maintained as a historic residence. Source: Idaho State University News
- Macy’s Apples and Hives, Swore Farms, Evans Farmstead Cheese and CreeAnna’s were among the vendors present in the first Christmas Market at the Westwood Mall. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bear Lake County
- The Paris Elementary School library received a $3,000 grant from the Idaho Lottery. Source: The News-Examiner
Bingham County
- The Christmas Tree Fantasy was held at the Eastern Idaho Fairground. The fundraiser collects donated trees and other Christmas decorations to auction off for local charities. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Kiwanis Club, a service club, has returned to Blackfoot after getting the prerequisite 15 members to form a board and hold internal elections. The club seeks to serve youth and family in the region by encouraging service projects, leadership skills and fostering youth engagement in the community. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Christmas tree tradition in Blackfoot was revived thanks to a $6,000 investment from the city after being suspended during the pandemic. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Community Dinner Table, a Christian church coalition formed to serve a weekly free meal, served its 100,000th meal. Source: Idaho State Journal
Caribou County
- Shane and Camille Petersen, owners of Idan-Ha theaters and The Centre theater, revamped a pizzeria in Soda Springs, renaming it Grumpy Guy’s Pizza. Source: The News-Examiner
Franklin County
- Five-hundred people participated and volunteered at the Bear River Massacre site restoration — reintroducing 23 native plant species back to the 350-acre plot of land. Source Idaho State Journal
Oneida County
- The Malad Dragon wrestlers held a fundraiser raffle to raise money to compete in northern Idaho. The IronDoor Smokehouse was present for catering and Ward’s Ace and Country Store was present as a Federal Firearms License holder to support the transfer of several raffled firearms. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- The American Falls Airport was renamed to Savage Field to honor Dave Savage for his years of service to the local aviation community. The completion of the revamped runway is set to be open in June 2025. Source: Power County Press
- Hillcrest Elementary in American Falls raised $13,000 during their read-a-thon with nearly 163,000 minutes read. Donations were matched by a fraternal financial services organization, Modern Woodmen of America, with up to $2,500. Source: 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.
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.
Regional labor market information
- Labor demand in south central Idaho remained stable in November 2024, with a total of 2,525 unique job postings in the region, a 13% increase from 2,901 unique postings in October 2024. The unemployment rate increased to 0.2% from October 2024 and has increased 0.6% from November 2023. Total employment has grown 0.7% over the past year.
| South central Idaho seasonally adjusted data | Nov-24 (P) | Oct-24 (R) | Nov-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 108,197 | 109,234 | 106,839 |
| Total employment | 104,229 | 105,368 | 103,548 |
| Unemployment | 3,968 | 3,866 | 3,291 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.1% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary | R – Revised | B – Benchmarked |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Nov-24 | Postings, Nov-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 120 | 75 |
| Registered nurses | 103 | 79 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 92 | 90 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 58 | 38 |
| Customer service representatives | 48 | 52 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general | 44 | 27 |
| Laborers, freight, stocker, material movers and hand | 41 | 40 |
| General and operations managers | 36 | 20 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 36 | 20 |
| Cashiers | 33 | 44 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Nov-24 | Postings, Nov-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 399 | 262 |
| Health care and social assistance | 386 | 260 |
| Manufacturing | 326 | 244 |
| Construction | 114 | 38 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 104 | 27 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 100 | 121 |
| Wholesale trade | 95 | 78 |
| Public administration | 89 | 34 |
| Accommodation and food services | 87 | 109 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 79 | 86 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
- Construction and other services (except public administration job postings) were up 200% and 285% respectively over the year. Accommodation and food services, and transportation and warehousing job openings have decreased 20% and 8% respectively over the year.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in south central Idaho | Days to fill, Nov-24 | Days to fill, Nov-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks | 59 | N/A |
| Editors | 59 | N/A |
| Business operations specialists and all other | 58 | N/A |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan | 58 | N/A |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | 57 | 4 |
| Personal financial advisors | 56 | N/A |
| Dental assistants | 56 | N/A |
| Insurance claims and policy processing clerks | 56 | N/A |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers | 55 | N/A |
| First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers and repairers | 54 | 12 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
Regional news
Blaine County
- Dollar Mountain opened to snowboarders and skiers for the season, Dec. 13. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
- The Mountain Rides Transportation Authority board voted for a 30% increase in commuter van leases, from 62 cents a mile to 81 cents a mile, along with funding for four new electric vans. Vanpool leases haven’t been updated since 2018. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
- Sun Valley Resort opened seven runs on opening day, Nov. 28. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
- The city of Ketchum is in the process of buying a three-unit residential building and adjacent lot to be converted into workforce housing. The unit and subsequent lot are being sold at $2.4 million. Once finalized, the city will rent to residents living and working full time in Blaine County who make more than 140% of the area median income. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Cassia County
- The Bank of Commerce opened a new branch in Burley. The Bank of Commerce was planning on opening a branch in the area years ago but was delayed due to COVID-19. The current location is temporary, with a more permanent building planned to break ground spring 2025. Source: KMVT
- Pomerelle Mountain opened to snowboarders and skiers, Nov. 29. Source: KMVT
Twin Falls County
- The Twin Falls City Council has accepted a contract and approved funding to move forward with the planned Canyon Trail Junction and Chobani Wellness Park. The current gravel lot will be turned into a landscaped area with a permanent restroom, a larger parking lot, fitness equipment, shade structures and bouldering features. Construction is planned to take around 12 weeks with groundbreaking planned in February. Source: Magic Valley Times 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.
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