Regional news

Regional labor market information

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

Labor market indicators	Aug-26 (P)	Jul-26 (R)	Aug-25 (B)
Civilian labor force	84,741	84,444	86,621
Total employment	81,507	81,482	83,525
Unemployment	3,234	2,962	3,096
Percentage of labor force unemployed	3.8%	3.5%	3.6%
Source: Idaho Department of Labor	P – Preliminary	R – Revised	B – Benchmarked

• The unemployment rate in the southeastern region changed rapidly as unemployment again increased above the state average rate to 3.8%. This resumes the higher-than-average unemployment trend observed in June. This change was driven by new people entering the labor force and searching for work. Total employment in the region was flat month-over-month.

Figure 2. Southeastern Idaho job postings

Job posting indicators	Aug-26	Aug-25
Unique postings	2,617	2,540
Days posted	25	28
Number of employers	599	630
Average hourly wage	$21.97	$19.26
Percentage of postings with advertised wage	38%	41%
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Unique postings increased while days posted and number of employers advertising job postings declined year-over-year. Simultaneously, the region’s average hourly wage increased by over $2, but that wage was less representative of the overall advertised wage.

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

Occupations	Postings, Aug-26	Postings, Aug-25
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	202	58
Registered Nurses	105	106
Retail Salespersons	104	115
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	79	100
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	51	60
Customer Service Representatives	49	72
Stockers and Order Fillers	41	28
Nursing Assistants	39	43
Laborers and Freight, Stock and Material Movers, Hand	36	38
Cashiers	34	32
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers was the top occupation by unique job postings with 202 postings, an increase from 58 postings last year. Other occupations had a similar number of postings year-over-year.

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

Industries	Postings, Aug-26	Postings, Aug-25
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	251	292
Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools	64	71
Supermarkets and Other Grocery (Except Convenience Stores)	58	53
General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload	56	47
General Freight Trucking, Local	44	11
Limited-Service Restaurants	42	72
Elementary and Secondary Schools	38	51
Credit Unions	36	36
Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores	30	23
Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers	30	43
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Hospitals remained the top industry for job postings. Automotive parts retailers and gas stations were new to the list of top industries by job postings this month.

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

Occupations	Median duration (days), Aug-26	Unique postings, Aug-26
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	59	1
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians	59	2
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers and Applicators, Vegetation	59	1
Pipelayers	59	3
Loan Officers	58	9
Construction and Building Inspectors	58	5
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	56	5
Clergy	54	1
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	54	1
Molders, Shapers, Casters, Except Metal and Plastic	53	3
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine

• Education administrators, electrical engineers, pesticide handlers and pipelayers topped the list of occupations in the region for posting duration — all tied at a median duration of 59 days advertised. All of the hardest to fill occupations had relatively few postings with Loan Officers being the most in demand among them with nine postings.

Regional news

Bannock County

• The Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance Company acquired Mountain West. The acquisition amounts to $800 million dollars in premiums from 130,000 members among the company and its affiliates: Mountain West, 360 Insurance Company and Mountain West Captive Reinsurance Company. The company will keep branding unchanged for its operations in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. Source: Idaho Business Review

• The Lava Hot Springs reopened its hot pool after 10 months of renovations. With an average operating temperature of 112 degrees, the pool had degraded after years of operation. Additions to the pool include new surrounding landscaping and a wheelchair accessible entrance to the pool. Source: KIFI News, Idaho State Journal, Lava Hot Springs, KIFI News

Bingham County

• Cielito Lindo Cocina Mexicana opened a new restaurant in Blackfoot. This will expand the restaurant’s offerings outside of its original location in Pocatello. The owner said he is also exploring future expansions in Idaho and Utah. Source: Idaho State Journal
  

• The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes opened a new fish and wildlife building. The new building was constructed by the contractor Steel Design out of Idaho Falls and was financed by the American Rescue Plan. Source: Idaho State Journal

Regional openings

•  X-Treme Collectibles opened in Pocatello

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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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