Regional news

Regional labor market information

Figure 1. North central Idaho labor market indicators (seasonally adjusted data)

Labor market indicators	Aug-26 (P)	Jul-26 (R)	Aug-25 (B)
Civilian labor force	53,707	53,791	54,025
Total employment	51,689	51,923	51,915
Unemployment	2,018	1,868	2,110
Percentage of labor force unemployed	3.8%	3.5%	3.9%
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine	P – Preliminary	R – Revised	B – Benchmarked

• The region’s unemployment rate of 3.8% in August 2026 was a 0.2% increase compared to July 2026 and a 0.1% decrease to August 2025. Over the last year, north central’s labor force has remained relatively stable with both employment and unemployment showing small decreases. Initial unemployment insurance claims in the region averaged 15 filings per week in August 2026 compared to 20 weekly filings in August 2025.

Figure 2. North central Idaho job postings

Job posting indicators	Aug-26	Aug-25
Unique postings	2,950	2,507
Days posted	20	26
Number of employers	565	584
Average hourly wage	$27.02	$24.06
Percentage of postings with advertised wage	44%	46%
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Both total postings and newly published listings during the month of August remained unchanged since last month. This follows statewide job posting trends increasing by a minimal of 1% over the month and new postings during the month decreased by 2%.

Figure 3. Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in north central Idaho

Occupations	Postings, Aug-26	Postings, Aug-25
Registered Nurses	180	179
Retail Salespersons	82	92
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	66	34
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	65	79
Physical Therapists	64	36
Customer Service Representatives	52	49
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	51	86
Nursing Assistants	43	26
Cashiers	42	35
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	38	35
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• The north central region shares the same top three occupations by total job postings with Idaho statewide – Registered Nurses, Retail Salespersons and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. In contrast, the region currently has a much higher concentration of Physical Therapists job listings compared to statewide (2% of total listings in north central compared to 0.5% of total listings statewide).

Figure 4. Top 10 industries by unique job postings in north central Idaho

Industries	Postings, Aug-26	Postings, Aug-25
Healthcare and Social Assistance	408	456
Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services	405	354
Educational Services	218	184
Retail Trade	197	277
Finance and Insurance	166	73
Manufacturing	149	131
Accommodation and Food Services	112	184
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services	70	73
Transportation and Warehousing	66	48
Wholesale Trade	57	65
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Educational Services job postings comprise 7% of north central’s current job listings which is more than double of the 3% of statewide listings. The regional listings focus on communication, research and leadership skills. Over half (54%) of regional Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry job postings were newly listed in August, compared to less than 25% for listings within Finance and Insurance and Wholesale Trade.

Figure 5. Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in north central Idaho

Occupations	Median duration, Aug-26	Unique postings, Aug-26
Food Preparation Workers	55	24
Laborers and Freight, Stock and Material Movers, Hand	53	30
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	51	33
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	51	16
Education Administrators, Postsecondary	45	19
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	38	31
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	38	32
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	38	23
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	34	17
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	32	24
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Specialized healthcare technicians (radiology, cardiovascular and miscellaneous) comprised three of the top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations by longest median posting duration.

Regional news

• The north central region reported 15 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 96 average weekly continuing claims during August 2026. Initial claim volume increased 15% from the previous month and decreased 25% from the 20 average weekly initial claims filed in August 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in north central during August decreased 13% from July 2026 and 32% from the 141 average weekly claims in August 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims decreased 14% from July 2026 and 29% from August 2025. Statewide continuing claims decreased 12% compared to both last month and August 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor

• Both the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College were awarded four-year project grants by the Idaho State Board of Education to support artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and responsible use in Idaho education. The University of Idaho will integrate AI literacy into teacher preparation courses while Lewis-Clark State College will expand dual-credit AI and cybersecurity offerings to 16 regional school districts. Source: Idaho State Board of Education

Idaho County

• Clearwater Valley and Grangeville started the 2026-2027 academic year as two distinctly separate school districts that were previously part of the unified Mountain View School District. This is the first traditional Idaho school district that has deconsolidated since Salmon River split from Grangeville in 2006. Source: Idaho Ed News

Latah County

• The University of Idaho was awarded a $6 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to utilize artificial intelligence, engineering and plant genetics to help develop cereal crops more resistant to bending or breaking through 2030. Source: Pullman Radio

• Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories purchased two Idaho facilities – one in Nampa and one in Post Falls –  to manufacture electronic devices similar to what is produced in their existing Lewiston location. The new centers will open in 2027 and each is expected to employ 250 workers. Source: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Nez Perce County

• A grand opening was held at the new Teen Center at the Lapwai Boys & Girls Club of the Nez Perce Tribe. Source: Nez Perce Tribe

• Lewis-Clark State College signed a co-admission and co-enrollment agreement with North Idaho College to improve educational flow between the two institutions while providing simultaneous resources to enrolled students. Source: Lewis-Clark State College

Regional openings

• Living Canvas Tattoo, Lewiston

• Pebble Creek Dental & Implants, Lewiston

• Hair by Merrian, Grangeville

• Pine Valley Construction, Kendrick

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This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY27 as part of the Workforce Information grant (55%) and state/nonfederal funds (45%) totaling $649,127.

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