Regional news

Regional labor market information

Figure 1.

Eastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data	Dec-25 (P)	Nov-25 (R)	Dec-24 (B)
Civilian labor force	133,045	132,436	136,738
Total employment	128,508	128,198	132,012
Unemployment	4,537	4,238	4,726
Percentage of labor force unemployed	3.4%	3.2%	3.5%
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine	P – Preliminary	R – Revised	B – Benchmarked

• Labor force estimates for December 2025 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics have both total over-the-month employment and unemployment increasing in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, December preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 609 people, with 310 more employed people and 299 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region increased to 3.4% over the month and was a 0.1 percentage point greater than December 2024.

Figure 2.

Eastern Idaho job postings	Jan-26	Jan-25
Unique postings	3,976	2,800
Days posted	21	34
Number of employers	869	501
Average hourly wage	$24.68	$30.58
Percentage of postings with advertised wage	42%	38%
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• There were an estimated 3,976 deduplicated job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for January 2026 (regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data). The number of postings is a 6% decrease from 3,737 the prior month and a 42% increase year over year.

Figure 3.

Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho	Postings, Jan-26	Postings, Jan-25
Registered Nurses	252	119
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	128	95
Retail Salespersons	112	113
Customer Service Representatives	94	39
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	51	19
Fast Food and Counter Workers	49	N/A
Personal Care Aides	48	N/A
Medical and Health Services Managers	46	19
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	46	54
Janitors and Cleaners	45	23
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Radiologic Technologists and Technicians, Fast Food and Counter Workers and Janitors and Cleaners replaced Maintenance and Repair Workers, Laborers and Freight, Stock and Material Movers, Sales Representatives and Wholesale and Manufacturing in the top 10 regional occupations by unique job postings for January. Employer hiring demand, based on quantity of job postings, increased in occupations such as Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers by 16% and Retail Salespersons by 4%. Hiring demand decreased for Registered Nurses by 15%, Personal Care Aides by 11%, Medical and Health Services Managers by 8% and three other occupations remaining virtually unchanged.

Figure 4.

Top 10 industries by unique job postings in eastern Idaho	Postings, Jan-26	Postings, Jan-25
Health Care and Social Assistance	621	408
Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services	465	228
Retail Trade	374	295
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services	288	392
Manufacturing	192	205
Construction	191	102
Accommodation and Food Services	167	68
Finance and Insurance	166	108
Wholesale Trade	158	168
Educational Services	142	153
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• The top five regional industries in January by quantity of job postings remained unchanged over the month. Hiring demand based on total unique job postings increased 2% in Retail Trade, 4% in Accommodation and Food Services, 5% in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, 7% in Health Care and Social Assistance, 10% in both Finance and Insurance and Educational Services, 25% in Wholesale Trade and 37% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industries. There was a decrease by 12% in Manufacturing only. 

Figure 5.

Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho	Median duration (days), Jan-26	Unique postings, Jan-26
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (Except Legal, Medical and Executive)	39	21
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	38	22
Food Preparation Workers	35	30
Patient Representatives	34	33
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Drivers	33	128
Maintenance and Repair Workers	32	43
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	30	51
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	29	32
Fishing and Hunting Workers	27	31
General and Operations Managers	27	29
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Hardest-to-fill occupations in the eastern Idaho region for January, by highest median job posting duration and multiple unique job postings, included Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Drivers, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians, and Maintenance and Repair Workers. Hardest-to-fill job posting challenges in January by occupational family were Office and Administrative Support, Health Care Practitioners and Technical occupations. All occupations added to the hardest-to-fill jobs list in January were new, except Fishing and Hunting Workers and General and Operations Managers.

Regional news

• Idaho Falls Regional Airport received $12 million in federal funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act for phase one of terminal expansion.   The airport is planning to expand outbound baggage operations, additional ticket queueing, counter space for additional air service, a second-level space for future passenger hold areas and expansion of the security screening checkpoint. Source: KIFI

• Yellowstone National Park hosted an estimated 4,763,164 recreation visits in 2025. This is the second-most on record, 1% more than last year, but 2% fewer than the park’s 2021 record. Source: Buckrail

• The new Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center North Idaho Falls emergency room opened —  the region’s first free-standing ER. Source: KIFI

• County commissioners voted 3-2 to close the Five County Detention and Youth Rehabilitation Center (5C) in St. Anthony. This closure laid off  21 staff members. Source: East Idaho News

• Battelle Energy Alliance, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contractor at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), reduced its staff by an estimated 27 employees in February due to internal restructuring. Around 120 total employee layoffs are projected through the federal fiscal year (ending September 2026) at the site. More than 6,400 engineers, researchers and support staff work at INL. Another DOE contractor, Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) which manages nuclear waste cleanup operations at INL, confirmed last month fewer than 50 employees were impacted by a voluntary separation program. The IEC employs around 1,600 people. Source: Idaho Department of Labor

• Despite a snow drought in the lower valleys, February precipitation, as reported by Idaho SNOTEL, has snow water equivalent in the Lost, Wood River, Henry’s Fork, Upper Salmon and Snake (above Palisades) basins ranging from 81%-136% of normal. Henry’s Fork Basin registered the lowest, while Big Lost River Basin had the highest. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

• The active inventory of homes for sale in eastern Idaho has increased by 9% over the year. Residential real estate is tilting more toward a buyers’ market. Overall, regionwide home prices have remained virtually the same since this time last year. The quantity of homes under contract is slightly ahead of where it was last year. Homes for sale regionwide are also staying on the market five more days on average than they did last year at this time. Source: Realtor.com Inventory Core Metrics

Bonneville County

• CrossFit Tsavo, purchased commercial property for a gym on Northgate Mile in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Business Review

• Lookout Credit Union donated $125,000 for upgraded playground equipment at McCowin Park in Ammon. Source: Post Register

Fremont County

• The city of Ashton was awarded $140,000 from the Department of Commerce Development Park Block Grant, Community Health Academy and Rocky Mountain Power for city swimming pool improvements. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal

• The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation opened a new outdoor ice-skating rink at Harriman State Park near Ashton-Tetonia Trail Visitor Center in Ashton. Source: Post Register

• The city of Ashton is accepting bids to sell 28 acres of Ashton Hill, which is forested canyon land. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal

Jefferson County

• The Idaho Office of Emergency Management awarded a $5,000 grant to the Jefferson County Sherrif’s Office towards purchasing a VERKADA guest access tablet system. The security device will be used for visitor sign-in to notify officials of the reason for their visit and will conduct a sex-offender registry, criminal background and watchlist checks before access is granted. Source: Jefferson Star

• Jefferson County Parks & Recreation are upgrading Jefferson County Lake in Rigby with amenities such as additional shoreline, rentable shelters, a supply store and an expanded entrance. Source: Jefferson Star

• Rooted Meadows School, the region’s first Waldorf school, is opening in Rigby. It offers developmental learning with academic, creative, social and emotional support. The Waldorf education brand originated over 100 years ago, with more than 1,000 schools worldwide. Source: Teton Valley News

• The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the purchase of 280 acres near Ririe, expanding the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area. Funding was made possible by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, onX and Idaho Fish and Game license revenue. Source: KIFI

Madison County

• Café Zupas leased 3,200 square feet of commercial space at University Towne Center in Rexburg. Source: Idaho Business Review

Teton County

• The city of Driggs 14th annual Idaho snow sculpting championship, Snowscapes, has been threatened due to lack of snow the past four years. As a result, Downtown Driggs Association recently purchased a $20,000 industrial snowmaking machine. Staff and volunteers made 200 tons of snow for the event this year. Source: Teton Valley News

• Teton Valley Health Care (TVHC) laid off 26 employees and is closing its infusion clinic due to financial pressures, including Medicaid reimbursement cuts and delayed funding. TVHC is now exploring partnerships with larger health systems to secure financial stability while trying to preserve its community-focused care model. Source: Teton Valley News

• The city of Driggs annexed a new development, Moran Meadows. It adds 154 attached and detached single-family homes within two parcels totaling 155 acres. The developer is seeking a 20% density bonus through the city’s affordable housing code, which would increase it to 184 units. Source: Teton Valley News

• The city of Victor annexed an 80-acre parcel of land, zoning 40 acres as civic for a wastewater treatment plant and 40 acres as residential cluster for higher-density housing. Source: Jackson Hole News & Guide

• Lucky Dog Thrift Store in Driggs donated $52,000 in revenue to five local non-profit organizations. Source: Teton Valley News

• A new emergency domestic violence center, Kalico Cottage, will begin construction this spring in Driggs. Source: East Idaho News

Regional openings

• Elevated Healing Services, a wound care clinic, opened in Idaho Falls.

• A new indoor playground, Kid Zone, opened in Idaho Falls. The playground features a basketball court, inflatable bowling and slides.

• Les Schwab Tire Center is opening a third area location in Ammon.

• Joyride Rentals, an ATV, snow machine, trailer and truck rental establishment, opened in Swan Valley.

• The new Stage Door Repertory Theatre opened in Rigby and debuted its first play.

• Lucy’s New York Style Pizzeria opened a third restaurant, this time in Rigby.

• Psychotic Addictions Gym, a 24/7 functional fitness gym, opened in Ammon at the Iona Industrial Park.

• Idaho Falls Pediatrics expanded with a new clinic, Mountain Peak Pediatrics, in Rexburg.

• Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr. food truck is expanding to a permanent storefront location in Rexburg.

• Zeppe’s Italian Ice is opening in Rexburg.

• Snake River Soda Shop opened in Thornton.

• Elevate Healing Services opened and The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting.

• Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce announced ground breakings and/or ribbon cuttings for Tan Republic, Granny’s Fabric House and Fire and Fizz.

Regional closings

• Teton Valley Health Care infusion clinic has closed for the foreseeable future due to funding cuts.

• Farmhouse Table restaurant, located within 7N Ranch resort in Ririe, permanently closed.

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This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY26 as part of the Workforce Information grant (41%) and state/nonfederal funds (59%) totaling $860,595.

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