Regional news

Regional labor market information

Figure 1.

Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data	Dec-25 (P)	Nov-25 (R)	Dec-24 (B)
Civilian labor force	87,878	87,395	87,035
Total employment	84,741	84,273	83,696
Unemployment	3,137	3,122	3,339
Percentage of labor force unemployed	3.6%	3.6%	3.8%
Source: Idaho Department of Labor	P – Preliminary	R – Revised	B – Benchmarked

• There is no new monthly sub-state labor force data to report. Updated labor force data will be released in May.
  

Figure 2.

Southeastern Idaho job postings	Mar-26	Mar-25
Unique postings	2,495	1,594
Days posted	23	30
Number of employers	609	328
Average hourly wage	$20.00	$22.22
Percentage of postings with advertised wage	36%	31%
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Unique postings in the region along with employers appears to have increased while average wages and days posted has decreased. Lightcast and the Conference Board changed how it accounted for postings after May 2025 so these numbers may not be comparable to 2025’s numbers.

Figure 3.

Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho	Postings, Mar-26	Postings, Mar-25
Registered Nurses	113	75
Retail Salespersons	107	57
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	88	45
Customer Service Representatives	52	24
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	52	43
Laborers and Freight, Stock and Material Movers, Hand	49	30
Fast Food and Counter Workers	42	16
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	39	21
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	39	13
Cashiers	38	14
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Top postings remained among Registered Nurses, Retail Salespersons and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. Health Technologists increased in March with 39 postings. Cashiers were also being hired by limited-service restaurants and retail.

Figure 4.

Top 10 industries by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho	Postings, Mar-26	Postings, Mar-25
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	281	146
Limited-Service Restaurants	99	32
Supermarkets and Other Grocery (Except Convenience Stores)	93	48
Elementary and Secondary Schools	72	3
Engineering Services	54	67
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property	45	5
Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools	44	54
Other General Government Support	42	58
Credit Unions	39	44
Full-Service Restaurants	31	10
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Hiring among industries in the region were similar month over month with General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, Limited-Service Restaurants and Supermarkets all topping the list again. In March, Lessors of Other Real Estate Property made the list with a noteworthy 45 postings.

Figure 5.

Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho	Median duration, Mar-26	Unique postings, Mar-26
Dietitians and Nutritionists	56	6
Medical Equipment Preparers	56	1
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	55	1
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	53	1
Sales Managers	50	1
Coaches and Scouts	49	16
Education Administrators, Postsecondary	47	6
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	46	22
Surgical Assistants	46	2
Driver/Sales Workers	45	12
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Dietitians and Nutritionists and Medical Equipment Preparers were the hardest-to-fill jobs in the region but possessed relatively few open positions. The highest number of postings among the hardest-to-fill jobs list, was 22 in Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. Coaches and Scouts and Driver and Sales Workers also had higher numbers.

Regional news

Bannock County

• Extreme Rush arcade and go-kart racing opened in Pocatello. Owners Jason Hebdon and Sidney Davis desired to bring entertainment available elsewhere in Idaho to the southeastern region, raising $725,000 in private investment to make it a reality. The Italian produced go-karts and track provided extra fundraising opportunities as they are named after local sponsors. Other amenities include laser tag and a toddler interactive area. There are also plans to open a restaurant later in 2026. The facility currently employs 50 people, but the addition of the kitchen will grow the staff to an estimated 75 people. Source: Idaho State Journal

• LA Semiconductor began its first wave of layoffs. 342 workers will be laid off through May 1 as production ends for the facility. The layoffs come after an April 10 purchase deadline elapsed under the company’s ongoing receivership. Source: Idaho State Journal, Idaho State Journal

• SME Steel expanded into the former Petersen Inc. metal fabrication facility. Thanks to Portneuf Valley Development Corporation’s tax reimbursement incentive package, the plant is expected to hire 100 people. Source: Idaho State Journal

• Swire Coca-Cola announced it will be closing its facility in Pocatello in 2027. It is part of an initiative to close the two eastern Idaho plants in Idaho Falls and Pocatello. Rather, a new facility will be built on Jameston Road between Shelley and Idaho Falls. The current Pocatello and Idaho Falls location employ between 50 to 100 people between them. Source: East Idaho News

Caribou County

• The New Zealand style ice cream business, Sweets and Swirls, started operating in Soda Springs. The business uses a machine imported from New Zealand to mix hard-packed ice cream with frozen fruit to make soft serve. The company currently doesn’t have a storefront but operates using social media to book events. Source: The News-Examiner

Regional closings

• The Pocatello A&W Restaurant closed. The Ohio-based owner says that they plan to renovate it into Popeyes by fall 2026.

• The Riverside Golf Course Clubhouse was demolished but will be replaced by the 2027 golf season.

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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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