Regional news

Regional labor market information

• Labor demand in northern Idaho decreased in August 2025, with a total of 1,844 unique job postings, a decrease from 2,212 in July. Although this marked a 17% decrease, this may be attributed to seasonal factors, as job postings were steady on a year over year basis, with 1,852 postings in August of 2024. Top line labor market indicators remain steady in northern Idaho, with the civilian labor force, employment and the unemployment rate largely unchanged on both a month to month as well as a year over year basis.

Figure 1.

Northern Idaho seasonally adjusted data	Aug-25 (P)	Jul-25 (R)	Aug-24 (B)
Civilian labor force	129,317	130,141	129,648
Total employment	123,099	123,876	123,289
Unemployment	6,218	6,265	6,359
% of labor force unemployed	4.8%	4.8%	4.9%
Source: Idaho Department of Labor	P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked

Figure 2.

Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in northern Idaho	Postings, Aug-25	Postings, Aug-24
Home health and personal care aides	62	47
Registered nurses	59	61
Customer service representatives	48	31
Retail salespersons	46	71
Medical and health service managers	41	40
Laborers, freight, stock, material moves and hand	41	43
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	31	35
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except for technical and scientific products	31	15
Food service managers	29	21
Data scientists	29	3
Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast

Figure 3.

Top 10 industries by unique job postings in northern Idaho	Postings, Aug-25	Postings, Aug-24
Health care and social assistance	288	270
Retail trade	185	259
Administrative and support services	180	204
Accommodation and food services	121	117
Professional, scientific and technical services	83	77
Manufacturing	82	114
Wholesale trade	77	70
Finance and insurance	69	76
Construction	50	42
Public administration	48	44
Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast

Figure 4.

Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in northern Idaho	Median duration, Aug-25	Median duration, Aug-24
Parking attendants	29	N/A
Restaurant cooks	28	N/A
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	26	N/A
Paralegals and legal assistants	26	N/A
Recreational therapists	26	N/A
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	25	N/A
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services and travel	25	N/A
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians	25	N/A
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants	25	N/A
Data scientists	24	10
Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast

Regional news

• Northern Idaho is currently in a drought at the highest ratings of severity, according to hydrologists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Several years of below-normal snowpack, low rainfall totals and above-normal temperatures have created “extreme to exceptional” drought in the region. Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed more than 50% of measured stream flow sites in the region are below normal. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Kootenai County

• Local governments in Kootenai County are completing their budgetary approval processes for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The Coeur d’Alene City Council approved a $151.9 million budget with an allowable 3% property tax increase, and Post Falls approved a $165 million budget with a 3% property tax increase. County commissioners approved a $144 million budget for Kootenai County, with a 2.5% tax increase. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

• Major changes are coming to the retail development on US 95 at Neider Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Construction is underway on a Raising Cane’s chicken restaurant, with confirmed plans for additional businesses in the shopping center, including a Mexican restaurant called Cultura CDA and national chains like Jersey Mike’s Subs, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Sleep Number. The shopping center currently houses At Home, Tractor Supply and Safeway. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Shoshone County

• Commissioners in Shoshone County voted to consolidate the county’s two fire protection districts into a single entity: Silver Valley Fire Rescue. Consolidation into a single district will offer several benefits including improved personnel and equipment sharing, as well as greater eligibility for grants and other revenue. Consolidation will also allow for standardization of training standards and equipment. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings

• Syringa Bodywork (Hayden)

• Piccolo Pizza (Post Falls)

• Barre Length + Strength (Hayden)

• Bricks & Minifigs (Coeur d’Alene)

• Spirit Halloween (Coeur d’Alene)

• Lantern Donuts (Coeur d’Alene)

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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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