News
Regional labor market information
Figure 1.| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Feb-25 | Postings, Feb-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers, laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | 187 | 61 |
| Registered nurses | 131 | 117 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 121 | 84 |
| Retail salespersons | 91 | 76 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 59 | 35 |
| Maintenance, repair workers and general | 51 | 43 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 51 | 40 |
| Customer service representatives | 50 | 70 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 40 | 45 |
| General and operations managers | 36 | 32 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Feb-25 | Postings, Feb-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 397 | 406 |
| Manufacturing | 356 | 292 |
| Retail trade | 302 | 344 |
| Finance and insurance | 231 | 89 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 189 | 115 |
| Construction | 130 | 56 |
| Wholesale trade | 112 | 76 |
| Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services | 106 | 76 |
| Accommodation and food services | 106 | 68 |
| Educational services | 94 | 30 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
- Construction, finance, insurance and educational services job postings increased 132%, 159% and 213% respectively over the year. Health care, social assistance and retail trade decreased 2.2% and 12.2% respectively.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in south central Idaho | Days to fill, Feb-25 | Days to fill, Feb-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Protective services workers and all other | 58 | N/A |
| Coaches and scouts | 57 | N/A |
| Psychiatric technicians | 56 | 17 |
| Tax preparers | 55 | N/A |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers | 52 | N/A |
| Agricultural equipment operators | 51 | 34 |
| Dental assistants | 50 | 21 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | 48 | N/A |
| Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary | 47 | N/A |
| Financial specialists and all other | 46 | N/A |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
Regional news
Blaine County
- Bellevue was awarded a $85,000 community project grant to improve outdoor public space at Memorial Park. The grant includes funds to provide technical assistance to the city of Bellevue. The grant was provided by The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Jerome County
- D&B Supply has broken ground in a 58,000 square foot store in Jerome that is expected to be in operation in spring 2026. Source: Magic Valley Times News
Twin Falls County
- The Twin Falls Fire Department has opened a regional fire training center that allows for firefighters to get hands-on training at a dedicated training facility. Source: Magic Valley Times News
- Chobani has announced a $500 million dollar and 500,000 square feet expansion at the Twin Falls plant. High protein yogurt products have been growing in demand in recent years and the new expansion will allow for an increased production in high-protein products. The expansion is expected to be an 18-month project that is estimated to add 200 technical jobs. Source: Magic Valley Times News
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional labor market information
Southwestern Idaho’s single-family home sales – February 2024 and 2025
| Median price sold | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | $530,000 | $519,000 | 2.1% |
| Adams | $355,000 | $325,000 | 9.2% |
| Boise | $529,500 | $510,000 | 3.8% |
| Canyon | $416,490 | $409,818 | 1.6% |
| Elmore | $392,990 | $315,500 | 24.6% |
| Gem | $429,900 | $485,000 | -11.4% |
| Owyhee | $327,000 | $286,000 | 14.3% |
| Payette | $380,000 | $357,499 | 6.3% |
| Valley | $805,518 | $1,000,000 | -19.4% |
| Washington | $320,250 | $314,900 | 1.7% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1b.
| Days on market | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 52 | 49 | 6.1% |
| Adams | 60 | 35 | 71.4% |
| Boise | 59 | 54 | 9.3% |
| Canyon | 64 | 49 | 30.6% |
| Elmore | 65 | 58 | 12.1% |
| Gem | 76 | 92 | -17.4% |
| Owyhee | 78 | 60 | 30.0% |
| Payette | 85 | 57 | 49.1% |
| Valley | 93 | 98 | -5.1% |
| Washington | 57 | 106 | -46.2% |
| Regional average days | 69 | 66 | 4.7% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1c.
| Inventory | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 1,421 | 1,126 | 26.2% |
| Adams | 25 | 21 | 19.0% |
| Boise | 61 | 37 | 64.9% |
| Canyon | 1,016 | 726 | 39.9% |
| Elmore | 110 | 55 | 100.0% |
| Gem | 100 | 56 | 78.6% |
| Owyhee | 16 | 22 | -27.3% |
| Payette | 100 | 82 | 22.0% |
| Valley | 95 | 79 | 20.3% |
| Washington | 33 | 44 | -25.0% |
| Regional totals | 2,977 | 2,248 | 32.4% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1d.
| Total homes sold | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 604 | 529 | 14.2% |
| Adams | 4 | 6 | -33.3% |
| Boise | 12 | 11 | 9.1% |
| Canyon | 368 | 330 | 11.5% |
| Elmore | 31 | 22 | 40.9% |
| Gem | 15 | 14 | 7.1% |
| Owyhee | 6 | 9 | -33.3% |
| Payette | 23 | 26 | -11.5% |
| Valley | 9 | 13 | -30.8% |
| Washington | 12 | 7 | 71.4% |
| SW sold and % change | 1,084 | 967 | 12.1% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
| Southwestern Idaho job postings | Feb-24 | Feb-25 | % change | # change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unique postings | 8,375 | 10,041 | 19.9% | 1,666 |
| Days posted | 10 | 11 | 10.0% | 1 |
| Number of employers | 2,657 | 2,774 | 4.4% | 117 |
| Advertised wage | $22.95 | $30.00 | 30.7% | $7.05 |
| Share wage advertisements | 44% | 50% | 13.6% | 6% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southwestern Idaho | Postings, Feb-25 | Postings, Feb-24 | Year over year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives, wholesale, manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 621 | 555 | 11.9% |
| Registered nurses | 1,729 | 1,360 | 27.1% |
| Customer service representatives | 641 | 666 | -3.8% |
| Retail salespersons | 602 | 1,144 | -47.4% |
| Software developers | 442 | 201 | 119.9% |
| Trailer-tractor truck drivers | 355 | 334 | 6.3% |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 301 | 530 | -43.2% |
| Project management specialists | 306 | 261 | 17.2% |
| Fast food and counter workers | 207 | 227 | -8.8% |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 261 | 285 | -8.4% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
Regional news
Ada County
- St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center announced it started a program last November coined ‘Hospital at Home’. A patient fitting the program’s parameters can take equipment home with follow-up visits from hospital-employed paramedics. The number of daily visits depends on the patient’s needs. Health care professionals can check the living environment and ensure nothing could potentially complicate a condition — an advantage to a hospital stay. Source: KTVB News
- The Ada County Highway District and the Idaho Transportation Department collaborated to provide temporary repairs to a failing bridge in Boise, spending an estimated $500,000. The road bridge has reopened after stabilization of its footings in the Boise River. The shutdown lasted almost two months. The bridge is on a list for full replacement in a couple of years. Source: Idaho News 6
- Seven Idaho companies were included on the Forbes Best Employers List. Of the 701 large companies on the list, Treasure Valley entities included: Winco Foods ranked No. 67, St. Alphonsus Health Care System ranked No. 187 and The J.R. Simplot Company ranked No. 292. On the midsize employers list, Treasure Valley businesses included: Jackson Foods ranked No. 170, Scentsy ranked No. 292 and Norco ranked No. 370. The poll contacted 217,000 employees across the country to see which priorities were highest when it came to employment. Compensation was the top priority, followed by employee development and advancement, meaningful work, supportive colleagues and workplace well-being and flexibility. Source: Idaho Business Review
Boise County
- Idaho City turned off its water service to residents after reports of low water pressure. A leak was found and water restored but only after some restaurants had to shut down or limit service. Source: Idaho Statesman
Canyon County
- Middleton School District trustees voted to put a $19.9 million bond on the ballot for the May election. The bond funds would be used to build a new elementary school that would educate 600-700 students. The school received $17 million from a legislative bill that was recently passed to help schools with facilities that need updating or to build new ones. The amount was deemed insufficient to provide overdue maintenance and build a new school in the current cost environment. Two of the three elementary schools are over capacity including Heights Elementary (145%), Mill Creek Elementary (114%) and Purple Sage Elementary (90%). The school district has experienced five failed bonds attempts since passing a bond in 2008 for a new high school. The requirement of a supermajority of 66.67% of voters in favor lowers the odds of voter approval. The 20-year bond would cost taxpayers $34 per $100,000 of assessed value after the homeowner’s exemption of $125,000. Source: Idaho Press
- The College of Idaho, a private college in Caldwell, has reorganized with President Doug Brigham filling the newly formed chief executive officer position. The executive vice president and provost was promoted to the presidential position. The college also announced it will phase out its Professional, Ethical, Articulate and Knowledgeable (PEAK) curriculum which allowed students to achieve one major and three minors. Students will have the option to finish out their PEAK programming or shift to the new curriculum “Do More in Four.” The new curriculum will include a four-day school week and four credit classes, allowing students to graduate with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in four years. New programs include criminology and international affairs departments at the college. The four-day week allows companies to have more time with interns or for uninterrupted research on that free Friday. The college has maintained enrollment of about 1,000 students since 2019. Source: Idaho Press
- Nampa started collecting a local option tax tied to hotel receipts, creating a pool of money for expansion of tourism amenities. The Ford Center and the Nampa Civic Center are examples of potential funding recipients. Source: Idaho News 6
Owyhee County
- The city of Homedale purchased the South Board of Control’s former business office when they moved to the vacant Vance Dairy Construction building, also in Homedale. The South Board oversees the irrigation districts utilizing water from the Owyhee River. The Owyhee Project stores water and provides electricity generation, flood control and recreational opportunities. Source: The Owyhee Avalanche
- The Owyhee County Historical Museum in Murphy has leased a 9,000 square foot lot behind the museum in preparation for building a wagon barn. The museum is the recipient of 35 antique wagons and stagecoaches from Mike Haney, a transportation historian and collector living in Jordan Valley, Oregon. The collection is well over 100 years old and a video regarding the wagons can be viewed here. The museum is accepting donations towards the $350,000 price tag for the barn, with several large in-kind and monetary contributions already pledged. The museum hopes to have the wagon barn in place by the summer of 2026. Source: The Owyhee Avalanche
Valley County
- The Payette Lakes Recreational Sewer and Water District is seeking a $7 million bond to repair its sewer system. The election will be held in May requiring 50% of the voters, plus one vote for approval. Source: The Star-News
- In May, McCall voters will vote on whether to renew ‘the streets’ local option tax (LOT) for 10 years. It requires 60% of voter approval to pass. The city is also asking for an additional 1%, moving the LOT from 3% to 4%. Source: The Star-News
Openings
- A ribbon cutting was held to welcome the new Department of Motor Vehicles office located in Star City Hall. Appointments must be made in advance. Source: Idaho News 6
- Belmont Brew House opened in Garden City’s former Twisted District Brew Co. which closed last spring. A wide variety of cider and tap beer are offered, along with a robust menu consisting of made-from-scratch choices. Source: Idaho Statesman
- The Boise Police Department (BPD) opened a new substation coined the Whitewater Station. The cost to remodel the former Moneytree was about $1.8 million and will house the motorcycle and DUI teams, along with providing cubicles for all officers to drop in and utilize the space. “Total demand for traffic services, complaints and crashes has risen over 25% in the last five years,” according to a BPD representative.” Source: Idaho Press
- Rapido Burrito opened in the previous Gyro Shack spot in west Boise. The same owner rebranded a Gyro Shack earlier in Boise to fit consumer preferences across the Treasure Valley. There are no plans to convert the remaining four Gyro Shack restaurants, which are performing well according to the restaurateur. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Rosa’s, a taco shop that co-locates with Push and Pour coffee shop in Garden City, opened its doors to crowds. It offers organic corn tortillas while being part of the Wylder family of restaurants that include the Wylder, Certified Kitchen + Bakery, the Roosevelt Market, the Wyld Child and the Percy. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop opened in Star. It is a franchise offering a variety of sandwiches. The franchise is already established in Coeur d’Alene and Twin Falls, with plans to open another restaurant in Meridian before years end. Source: Idaho Statesman
Closures
- Wells Fargo announced it will close its Collister branch and its Vista branch in Boise. In addition, a Boise bench branch will move to a nearby location in May. The bank closed a branch in Meridian over a year ago. Finally, its Enterprise Complaint Center, a call center located in Boise, has laid off 55 employees which was expected after earlier announcements by Wells Fargo. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Cinnaholic closed its bakery located at the Village in Meridian. The eatery had been open for eight years. Source: Idaho News 6
- The Chicken Shanty, an Oregon-based premium craft chicken eatery, closed its Meridian restaurant. Source: Idaho Statesman
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional news
- Both Lewis-Clark State College and the University of Idaho reported strong enrollment numbers for the Spring 2025 semester. Compared to Spring 2024, Lewis-Clark State College reported more than 300 additional students while the University of Idaho reported over 400 more enrollments. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- The LC Valley Food project is a new online food hub pilot that will connect a mix of local producers while creating a single pick-up point for consumers. Source: KOZE
- St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health have launched a new 3D mobile mammography program. The mobile unit will rotate between clinic locations in Cottonwood, Grangeville, Orofino and Kamiah. Source: Idaho County Free Press
Nez Perce County
- Reliance Ministries of Lewiston has purchased a home that will serve as a Reliance House for pregnant mothers and babies. The 22-month residential program is set up to allow mothers to break cycles of crisis while pursuing independence and success. Source: KOZE
Idaho County
- Idaho County Airport has opened a new pilot’s lounge offering Wi-Fi, restrooms and a place to rest. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) is working to open a Resale Store in Grangeville to support their animal shelter. Source: ARF
- The new Salmon River Safe Haven Resource Center nonprofit in Riggins will provide assistance to domestic violence victims. Source:
Latah County
- Latah County Commissioners signed an emergency disaster declaration in early March following flooding events during the last week of February. The combination of still frozen ground, elevated temperatures, melting snow and high levels of precipitation washed out roadways. It also flooded parks and neighborhoods. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Paradise Creek Bicycles has transitioned from a retail storefront to offering mobile bike maintenance services. Source: Paradise Creek Bicycles
- Latah Recovery Center has opened the Whitman Recovery Community Center in Pullman, Washington, for people recovering from substance use and facing behavioral health issues. The Latah Recovery Center has been in operation in Moscow for 10 years. Source: KXLY
- The National Science Foundation awarded a $4.5 million grant to the University of Idaho to develop open source artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help institutions manage grants and contracts more effectively. If successful, the program will complete monotonous and time-consuming administrative tasks while staff is better able to focus resources on strategic responsibilities. The project will initially partner with the University of Idaho and the University of Southern Utah, with plans to expand to additional data-drive research institutions. Source: National Science Foundation
- The University of Idaho received a $350,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for extra cold walk-in freezers for cryopreservation of perishable biological samples. This follows a $550,000 grant award in 2024 from the same organization for a chemical ionization mass spectrometer at the Ecoflux lab in Moscow. Source: Pullman Radio
- The Latah County Library District received a $10,000 grant from the American Library Association to help fund automatic doors for ADA compliance at the Kendrick branch. Source: Lewiston Tribune
Clearwater County
- Around five gallons of hydraulic oil were spilled into the north fork of the Clearwater River from a hydro plant operated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Cleanup is in process and no fish mortalities are expected. Source: Daily Fly
- The Rex Theater in Orofino is under new ownership. Future plans include movies, live performances, and workshop and conference space for public and private events. The Rex originally opened in 1914 as Orofino’s first theater. Source: Daily Fly
- The Orofino City Council approved spending $350,000 for two portions of the Cured-In-Place Pipe project that will be completed by C&L Water Solutions. The project will address the city’s aging sanitary sewer lines. Source: Clearwater Tribune
Lewis County
- The Prairie River Library District recently hired a branch manager in Nezperce and the library has resumed regular operating hours. Source: Nezperce City Council
Openings
- NRH Construction, Grangeville
- Freedom Hard Plumbing, Kamiah
- Wild Heart Designs, Cottonwood
- Malama Smoothies and Coffee Co, Lewiston
- F Street Bar, Lewiston
- Pepper’s Taco Truck, Grangeville
- White Bird Store and Liquor, White Bird
- Amigos Mexican Food Restaurant, Riggins
- Innovative Electric Services is under new ownership, Orofino
Closings
- Wooden Nickel sports bar, Lewiston
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional labor market information
- Labor demand in northern Idaho was stable in February 2025, with a total of 1,896 unique job postings in the region, compared to 1,916 in January. Labor demand remains markedly higher than in the previous year, when February 2024 job postings decreased by 18% at 1,559. Due to Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarking work, which occurs in the first quarter of each year, there is no update to labor force and unemployment statistics for February.
| Northern Idaho seasonally adjusted data | Dec-24 (P) | Nov-24 (R) | Dec-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 130,789 | 129,172 | 127,946 |
| Total employment | 124,474 | 123,097 | 122,592 |
| Unemployment | 6,315 | 6,075 | 5,354 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.2% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in northern Idaho | Postings, Feb-25 | Postings, Feb-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 124 | 60 |
| Retail salespersons | 63 | 62 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 57 | 26 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 33 | 36 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 32 | 37 |
| Medical and health services managers | 27 | 17 |
| Nursing assistants | 26 | 13 |
| Janitors and cleaners | 26 | 23 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners | 24 | 19 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 23 | 17 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 industries by job unique postings in northern Idaho | Postings, Feb-25 | Postings, Feb-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 312 | 216 |
| Administrative and support services | 198 | 162 |
| Retail trade | 188 | 188 |
| Accommodation and food services | 104 | 81 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 99 | 82 |
| Finance and insurance | 95 | 111 |
| Manufacturing | 83 | 86 |
| Wholesale trade | 57 | 41 |
| Construction | 49 | 34 |
| Educational services | 47 | 36 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in northern Idaho | Median duration Feb-25 | Median duration Feb-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Database architects | 23 | N/A |
| Dentists and general | 23 | N/A |
| Pharmacy technicians | 23 | N/A |
| Structural iron and steel workers | 23 | N/A |
| Cashiers | 22 | N/A |
| Loan interviewers and clerks | 20 | N/A |
| Education administrators and postsecondary | 19 | N/A |
| Occupational health and safety technicians | 19 | N/A |
| Public relations specialists | 19 | N/A |
| Securities, commodities, financial services and sales agents | 19 | N/A |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
Regional news
Kootenai County
- Kootenai Health and MultiCare have announced plans to develop a new 30-acre medical campus, called Prairie Medical Campus, on the Highway 41 corridor in Post Falls. Phase one will include a micro-hospital with an emergency department and imaging, along with a multi-story facility for ambulatory surgery, laboratory services and clinic offices. Development will begin in 2025 with a 24-to-36-month completion timetable for the first phase. Source: MultiCare Newsroom
- The first phase of construction at the Millworx development has been completed, with over 200 residential units, including townhouses and multifamily residences, completed. In addition, a four-story mixed-use building has been completed with residential space available on the ground floors and residential units now available on upper levels. A 151-room hotel is still under construction and is expected to be completed by year-end. Source: Journal of Business
- The City of Coeur d’Alene’s Planning and Zoning Commission moved forward with approval for the proposed Coeur Terre development. Coeur Terre calls for a 438-acre development with up to 2,800 housing units, retail and restaurants, 18 acres of parks, and land for a new police substation and two public schools. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is beginning the next phase of construction work on the major interchange rework at Interstate 90 and State Highway 41. After relatively mild weather allowed progress to continue throughout the winter, ITD crews have closed the westbound off-ramp and have begun construction of new ramps. Construction began in 2022 and is slated for completion in 2026. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
Openings
- 208 Clothing & Gift (Rathdrum)
- B Boulangerie (Hayden)
- Grocery Outlet (Post Falls)
- Sierra (Coeur d’Alene)
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional labor market information
Figure 1.| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Jan-25 | Postings, Jan-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | 165 | 47 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 107 | 101 |
| Registered nurses | 104 | 138 |
| Retail salespersons | 88 | 58 |
| First-line superviors of retail sales workers | 44 | 39 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 43 | 43 |
| Customer service representatives | 39 | 61 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 39 | 30 |
| General and operations managers | 36 | 27 |
| Cashiers | 35 | 53 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in south central Idaho | Postings, Jan-25 | Postings, Jan-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare and social assistance | 341 | 366 |
| Manufacturing | 315 | 268 |
| Retail trade | 308 | 317 |
| Finance and insurance | 201 | 67 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 140 | 105 |
| Construction | 110 | 50 |
| Accommodation and food services | 103 | 87 |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 93 | 56 |
| Educational services | 90 | 25 |
| Wholesale trade | 83 | 77 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in south central Idaho | Days to fill, Jan-25 | Days to fill, Jan-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical engineers | 59 | 5 |
| Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks | 59 | 29 |
| Receptionists and information clerks | 57 | 16 |
| Personal service managers, all other | 57 | N/A |
| Packers and packagers, hand | 56 | 10 |
| Self-enrichment teachers | 55 | N/A |
| Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | 55 | N/A |
| Speech-language pathologists | 53 | N/A |
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | 52 | N/A |
| Police and sheriff’s patrol officers | 50 | N/A |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | ||
Regional news
Blaine County
- Mountain Rides Transportation Authority is planning on developing a dedicated bus route to the Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey. The tentative plan is to run this service from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. or 11:00 p.m., seven days a week. This service is planned to begin in October 2025. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
- The city of Ketchum purchased a three-unit condominium building to be used for workforce housing. Pricing has not yet been set for the units. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Jerome County
- Idaho State Police (ISP) are working on developing a forensic crime lab in Jerome. Currently, evidence is sent to Pocatello or Meridian for testing. ISP hopes to have the lab operating next year. Source: KMVT
Twin Falls County
- The College of Southern Idaho’s 28,000-square-foot transportation technology building will be completed in September 2025. This new building will support the diesel tech and automotive service programs. Source: Magic Valley Times News
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional labor market information
Southwestern Idaho’s single-family home sales – January 2023 and 2024
| Median price sold | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | $538,000 | $515,000 | 4.5% |
| Adams | $730,000 | $585,000 | 24.8% |
| Boise | $570,000 | $562,500 | 1.3% |
| Canyon | $425,000 | $399,900 | 6.3% |
| Elmore | $365,000 | $350,000 | 4.3% |
| Gem | $400,000 | $389,000 | 2.8% |
| Owyhee | $453,450 | $399,999 | 13.4% |
| Payette | $374,514 | $379,900 | -1.4% |
| Valley | $750,000 | $776,930 | -3.5% |
| Washington | $327,535 | $350,000 | -6.4% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1b.
| Days on market | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 54 | 53 | 1.9% |
| Adams | 115 | 3 | 373.3% |
| Boise | 88 | 106 | -17.0% |
| Canyon | 63 | 48 | 31.3% |
| Elmore | 63 | 41 | 53.7% |
| Gem | 63 | 58 | 8.6% |
| Owyhee | 154 | 41 | 275.6% |
| Payette | 62 | 37 | 67.6% |
| Valley | 117 | 91 | 28.6% |
| Washington | 115 | 251 | -54.2% |
| Regional average days | 89 | 73 | 22.6% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1c.
| Inventory | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 1,271 | 1,035 | 22.8% |
| Adams | 26 | 21 | 23.8% |
| Boise | 60 | 23 | 160.9% |
| Canyon | 911 | 710 | 28.3% |
| Elmore | 98 | 57 | 71.9% |
| Gem | 96 | 62 | 54.8% |
| Owyhee | 24 | 14 | 71.4% |
| Payette | 102 | 78 | 30.8% |
| Valley | 108 | 77 | 40.3% |
| Washington | 30 | 40 | -25.0% |
| Regional totals | 2,726 | 2,117 | 28.8% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
Figure 1d.
| Total homes sold | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 493 | 465 | 6.0% |
| Adams | 1 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Boise | 8 | 8 | 0.0% |
| Canyon | 263 | 292 | -9.9% |
| Elmore | 21 | 26 | -19.2% |
| Gem | 17 | 18 | -5.6% |
| Owyhee | 4 | 9 | -55.6% |
| Payette | 26 | 25 | 4.0% |
| Valley | 15 | 13 | 15.4% |
| Washington | 8 | 3 | 166.7% |
| SW sold and % change | 856 | 860 | -0.5% |
| Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service | |||
| Southwestern Idaho job postings | Jan-24 | Jan-25 | % change | # change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unique postings | 8,762 | 10,620 | 21.2% | 1,858 |
| Days posted | 11 | 14 | 27.3% | 3 |
| Number of employers | 2,875 | 2,652 | -7.8% | -223 |
| Advertised wage | $24.06 | $29.97 | 24.6% | $5.91 |
| Share wage advertisements | 47% | 51% | 8.5% | 4% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southwestern Idaho | Postings, Jan-25 | Postings, Jan-24 | Year over year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives, wholesale, manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 313 | 195 | 60.5% |
| Registered nurses | 310 | 380 | -18.4% |
| Customer service representatives | 237 | 194 | 22.2% |
| Retail salespersons | 226 | 206 | 9.7% |
| Software developers | 186 | 108 | 72.2% |
| Trailer-tractor truck drivers | 164 | 133 | 23.3% |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 159 | 126 | 26.2% |
| Project management specialists | 139 | 116 | 19.8% |
| Fast food and counter workers | 67 | 58 | 15.5% |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 79 | 107 | -26.2% |
| Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast |
Regional news
Ada County
- For the third year in a row, the Boise Airport broke its annual record for passenger traffic. The airport accommodated 4,990,885 passengers in 2024, this was an uptick of 238,000 passengers from 2023, with a growth rate of 5% from 2023 to 2024. The facility’s passengers increased 81% from 2014-2024. The airport has embarked on an infrastructure expansion due to this growth spurt. A seven-story rental car center is under construction, set to open in 2026. Concourse A will add 10 new gates with availability in 2027. New retail, food and drink options, along with a renovation of the Bardenay Restaurant, will be available within the next year. Much has already been accomplished including a new cell phone lot, increased employee and economy parking lots and an expanded TSA security checkpoint area. Source: KTVB News
- Albertsons Companies announced it will be combining its Intermountain Division and its Denver Division into one Intermountain Division. The company will have three regions and new leadership following previously announced layoffs at Safeway in California and Arizona which affected 380 workers. Source: grocerydive.com
- The Boise School District announced the purchase of three lots and parcels near Timberline High School for future campus expansions. The $3.4 million purchase came from its Plant Facility Fund. Source: KTVB News
- West Ada School District is proposing boundary changes that will impact Hunter Elementary School and Pleasant View Elementary School, both in north Meridian. Hunter Elementary School is currently at 58% capacity but will move to 109% capacity with the proposed changes. Pleasant View Elementary School is at 202% capacity and will be at 151% capacity after the boundary changes. Meridian is a rapidly growing city with a 2023 population estimate of 134,801, second only to Boise. It grew by over 5,000 people from 2022-2023 or 3.9%. Source: Idaho Press and U.S. Census Bureau
- The Idaho History Center, located in Boise near the old Penitentiary and Idaho Botanical Gardens, is set to expand its footprint from 62,000 square feet to 112,000 square feet with a second story. The expansion will combine several locations which are not up to standards for archiving historical documents and treasures. The agency serves over 110,000 people annually who contact its departments including the State Museum, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office and Old Idaho Penitentiary. It also manages programs under the National Historic Preservation Act which administers the National Register of Historic Places. Having one building will also cut down on transporting fragile items between locations. Half of its budgets comes from fees, public and private grants, memberships and corporate and philanthropic gifts. The rest of the budget is from state funding with $15 million approved for the expansion. Source: Idaho Statesman
Canyon County
- The Western Youth Support Center moved to a larger location in Nampa. The center opened its doors one year ago serving 170 youth, ages 10 through 17. This expansion allows for the use of the facility by children ages five through nine, with parental consent. The type of usage depends on the youth as the facility is designed for visits to rest or recreate and is open 24/7. The process starts with a crisis experienced by a youth with staff responding to both walk-ins and referrals. The intake process involves a medical and mental health screening along with a tour of the center and introduction of staff. The center has expanded its capacity from six youth at a time to nine youth. Prior to 2024, youth in crisis went into police custody or the emergency rooms of local hospitals. The state of Idaho committed $6.5 million to establish eight youth assessment centers across the state. Source: Idaho Press
- The city of Nampa announced that Tractor Supply will build a new distribution center to serve the Pacific Northwest’s 200 stores. The facility will be a $225 million investment with space of 865,000 square feet and yield the creation of 500 jobs. There are currently 12 retail stores in Idaho with Emmett, Kuna and Middleton nearby. To commemorate the event, Tractor Supply donated $20,000 to local Future Farmers of America and 4-H programs. Source: tractorsupply.com
- The College of Idaho announced it will rename its basketball arena after one of its first renown student basketball players, NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, who moved on to become a Minneapolis Laker around the late-1950s. Mr. Baylor was the first round draft pick and named Rookie Player of the Year. He later moved with the team to its current home in Los Angeles. It will be called the Elgin Baylor Arena. There are currently six students with tuition paid by a scholarship in his name. Source: Boise State Public Radio and Wikipedia
Owyhee County
- Southwest Idaho Legacy Organization (SILO) awarded four grants to regional groups.
- The Homedale High School Golf Program received $43,590, which will be used to purchase indoor and outdoor practice equipment.
- The Homedale High School Drama Club used its $3,355 award to purchase equipment for stage productions. The equipment came with delivery and installation, a big help for those busy teachers.
- The Homedale Library District received $1,800 for two new computers to be utilized by the public.
- The Marsing School District received $800 to purchase food for two community education events that are held in the evenings. Offering dinner has been found to heighten participation of these events that provide information on mental health and substance abuse.
- SILO was founded in 1976 when the Caldwell Memorial Hospital was sold. A board comprised of community members reviews the funding requests from Canyon and Owyhee counties, not including Nampa. Source: The Owyhee Avalanche
Openings
- Chick-fil-A opened its sixth restaurant in the Treasure Valley, on the west side of Meridian. The franchise hired approximately 120 full-and part-time workers. Source: Chick-fil-A.com
- Canyon County hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting at its new Elections Building in Caldwell — the county seat. The $4.7 million, 16,500 square foot building was built with American Rescue Plan Act funding. It will expand space for a rapidly growing county which grew its residents from 2013-2023 by 33,865 or 30.6%, a 2.5% average annualized population growth rate. The facility is intended to ensure secure, efficient and accessible processing for elections. Source: Idaho Capital Sun
- Bardenay opened its fourth Idaho restaurant and distillery in Garden City. The 7,500 square foot space allocates 4,500 square feet to its restaurant and patio, with 3,000 square feet to the distillery. This quadruples the size of its Eagle distillery and will enable the company to produce canned cocktails and offer direct sales to the consumer with an in-restaurant state liquor store. It shares both a parking lot and a liquor license with the Riverside Hotel and Sandbar Restaurant. Source: Idaho Press
- Bamboo Sushi and Asian Bistro opened in Boise. It filled the space vacated by Madurai Virundhu. Source: BoiseDev
Closings
- The pet microchipping company, Save This Life closed its doors unexpectedly rendering the implanted chips meaningless for pet owners across the Treasure Valley. Other microchip companies can re-register for pet owners who have retained the chipping paperwork. Source: KTVB News
- The Boise Joann Craft and Fabric retail outlet will be part of a bankruptcy proceeding that closes its operations. The national company had been in business for over 75 years. Source: Idaho News 6
- Forever 21 will close in Boise’s Town Square Mall where it originally leased 18,000 square feet in 2008. The company has been facing financial struggles since 2019 and plans its second bankruptcy filing impacting stores nationally. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Volcom announced it will close its store in the Boise Town Square Mall as it files bankruptcy across its family of stores including Billabong and Quiksilver. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Mad Mac is closing its Kuna restaurant and returning to food truck status only. The restaurant enjoyed brick and mortar status in Boise for four years, then almost two years in Kuna. Source: Idaho Statesman
- El Tenampa and the former Johnny Carino’s restaurants at Boise’s Spectrum will be razed and replaced with a Chick-fil-A. The Johnny Carino space has been vacant since 2016, while El Tenampa will rebuild at its original location in Nampa where a fire caused its departure. Source: Idaho Statesman
Groundbreakings
- A groundbreaking was hosted by the College of Western Idaho for its student success center. The center will be home to the bookstore, a library, tutoring space and a one-stop center for students. Construction is expected to be completed by fall of 2026. The total cost is $21.7 million and will be named the CapEd Student Success Center in honor of the credit union which supplemented the state’s funding. Source: Idaho News 6
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional labor market information
- Labor demand in northern Idaho increased in January 2025, with a total of 1,916 unique job postings in the region – an increase from 1,390 in November. The increase is consistent with past seasonal trends with January conventionally seeing an increase over December, however labor demand is 9% higher than it was at the same time last year, when postings totaled 1,755 in January 2024. The unemployment rate increased slightly from 4.7% to 4.8% and remains higher than in December 2023. Due to Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarking work, which occurs in January each year, there is no update to labor force and unemployment statistics for January.
| Northern Idaho seasonally adjusted data | December-24 (P) | November-24 (R) | December-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 130,789 | 129,172 | 127,946 |
| Total employment | 124,474 | 123,097 | 122,592 |
| Unemployment | 6,315 | 6,075 | 5,354 |
| % of Labor force unemployed | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.2% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked |
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in northern Idaho | Postings, January-25 | Postings, January-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 69 | 85 |
| Retail salespersons | 61 | 54 |
| Unclassified occupation | 50 | 52 |
| Customer service representatives | 49 | 45 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 42 | 26 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 38 | 29 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 30 | 21 |
| Food service managers | 28 | 12 |
| Medical and health services managers | 28 | 28 |
| General and operations managers | 27 | 14 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 industries by job unique postings in northern Idaho | Postings, January-25 | Postings, January-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 303 | 275 |
| Retail trade | 199 | 230 |
| Administrative and support services | 181 | 173 |
| Accommodation and food services | 122 | 79 |
| Manufacturing | 101 | 109 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 90 | 95 |
| Construction | 72 | 43 |
| Finance and insurance | 72 | 113 |
| Wholesale trade | 69 | 68 |
| Other services | 49 | 41 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in northern Idaho | Median duration Jan-25 | Median duration Jan-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Home health and personal care aides | 30 | N/A |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 30 | N/A |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific Products | 30 | N/A |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | 30 | N/A |
| First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers | 30 | N/A |
| Construction managers | 30 | N/A |
| Bakers | 30 | N/A |
| Tree trimmers and pruners | 30 | N/A |
| Food service managers | 29 | N/A |
| Receptionists and information clerks | 29 | N/A |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
Regional news
- Avista Utilities, a keystone provider of electric and natural gas utilities in the panhandle, has filed a proposal with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission that would raise rates for Idaho customers. As currently proposed, electric rates in Idaho would increase by 14% in September followed by a 5% increase in 2026, while natural gas would increase 10% and 1% in 2025 and 2026 respectively. Avista stated the proposed increases are intended to cover ongoing investment in infrastructure. Source: Journal of Business
Kootenai County
- North Idaho College (NIC) received sanctions relief from its accrediting agency, with the college’s multi-year show cause sanction reduced to a probationary status. The move to probation grants a one-year extension for NIC to return to compliance, and a letter from the accrediting body noted improvement on a majority of the college’s noncompliance issues. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- Work on the multi-year project to replace the State Highway 411 and Interstate 90 interchange in Post Falls is proceeding to the next phase, after a productive winter helped by relatively mild weather. The Idaho Transportation Department will close the current westbound off-ramp with detours and temporary rerouting as they move on to the next phase. Construction has been underway since 2022 and the new interchange is slated for completion in 2026. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- The Coeur d’Alene School Board approved a new Early Plus program to expand preschool opportunities in the school district and improve kindergarten readiness. The new program will be located in the former Borah Elementary School building, after the school was closed last year. Half of the building is currently occupied by the Coeur d’Alene Early Learning Center, which serves children with special needs from ages three to five. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- The city of Rathdrum has unveiled plans for a new $15 million city hall which will consolidate municipal departments into a single facility, located on a 30-acre community campus. The 30,000-square-foot building will house the city’s council, administration, police and parks and recreation departments, with a nearby shop facility housing the street crew and water and sewer department. Source: Journal of Business
Openings
- Mailbox Club (Hayden)
- Planet Terra (Dalton Gardens)
- Kootenai Vision Center (Post Falls)
- Kraken Coral & Coffee (Post Falls)
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional labor market information
- There were an estimated 1,425 deduplicated job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for January 2025, according to The Conference Board: Help Wanted Online. (This is regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data.) The 1,425 postings are a 44% decrease from 2,534 the prior month, but a 21% increase from 1,120 year-over-year. Registered nurses remained in the top spot of occupations by unique job postings in the region for January. New to the top occupations by quantity of job postings in January were nursery and farm workers, physical therapists, medical imaging technicians and construction laborers. Employer hiring demand, based on quantity of job postings, decreased for all other carryover occupations from the month prior, including fewer by 55% for registered nurses, 62% for retail salesperson, 57% for heavy truck drivers, 45% for customer service representatives, 58% for retail sales supervisors and 62% for freight and material movers.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in eastern Idaho, January 2025 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 56 |
| Crop, nursery, greenhouse workers and laborers | 44 |
| Retail salespersons | 37 |
| Physical therapists | 34 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 34 |
| Customer service representatives | 26 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 25 |
| Hand laborers, freight, stock and material movers | 24 |
| Magnetic resonance imaging technologists | 23 |
| Construction laborers | 22 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- Finance and insurance replaced manufacturing in the top five of regional industries by quantity of job postings in January. Industry hiring demand by job postings increased over the month by 36% in finance and insurance. Job postings decreased over the month in all other top industries.
| Top industries by job unique postings in eastern Idaho, January 2025 | Postings |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 186 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 165 |
| Finance and insurance | 148 |
| Retail trade | 133 |
| Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services | 103 |
| Manufacturing | 93 |
| Wholesale trade | 73 |
| Construction | 55 |
| Educational services | 53 |
| Public administration | 45 |
| Accommodation and food services | 28 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 25 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast | |
- January data on the hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, by highest median job posting duration and multiple unique job postings, included pharmacy technicians, general and operations managers as well as administrative assistants. Hardest-to-fill job posting challenges in January by occupational family were health care practitioners, business and financial operations. All occupations were new to January’s hardest-to-fill jobs list.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, January 2025 | Days to fill | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy technicians | 28 | 8 |
| Sales representatives of services | 20 | 8 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 19 | 10 |
| Construction laborers | 17 | 22 |
| Management analysts | 17 | 12 |
| Accountants and auditors | 17 | 10 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | 17 | 9 |
| General and operations managers | 16 | 18 |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 16 | 16 |
| Mechanical engineers | 15 | 8 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
Regional news
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL) agreed to a five-year memorandum of understanding with Boise State and Idaho State Universities. The agreement outlines collaboration on research in critical and strategic materials and minerals, environmental sustainability and security, nuclear materials and fuel cycle engineering, efficiency in nuclear power systems and industrial cybersecurity. Source: INL
- The 29th Annual East Idaho Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo returned to Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls. The event featured over 50 vendors and hundreds of patrons. Source: Idaho Falls Magazine
- Yellowstone National Park hosted 4.7 million visitors for 2024, the second highest on record, and a 5% increase from 2023. Source: National Park Service
- Utah-based travel subscription service, Flights from Home, added Idaho Falls Regional Airport to three other intermountain west airports it services. Source: Idaho Business Review
- A total of $136,000 in Rural Education Professional Grants were awarded in the eastern Idaho region by the U.S. Small Business Administration, administered by Idaho Commerce Rural Services. Source: Idaho Commerce
- According to Natural Resources Conservation Services mountain data from SNOTEL, the six runoff basins that comprise eastern Idaho have an average year-to-date snow water equivalent of over 103% of median and year-to-date precipitation between 95% and 103%. Source: Natural Resources Conservation Services
Bonneville County
- Fixxology Drinks, a soda shop, opened another location in Idaho Falls. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
- A restaurant, bar and performance venue, AJ’s Place, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
- Big Lots, an Idaho Falls retailer, closed permanently. Source: The Idaho Department of Labor
- As one of seven Idaho establishments that have encouraged growth and expansion with jobs paying above-average county wages, Idaho Economic Advisory Council awarded an Idaho Tax Reimbursement Incentive to Project Sofa. Source: Idaho Commerce
- Idaho Broadband Advisory Board awarded a $25,000 BEAD Regional Coordination and Planning Grant to the city of Ammon for the support and development of broadband action teams and coalitions. Source: Idaho Commerce
- Merriam Park, LLC purchased 1.3 acres in Idaho Falls for commercial use. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Denning Holdings, LLC purchased an acre on Main Street in Iona for commercial use. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival from Alberta, Canada made an annual tour stop in Idaho Falls. The adventure films feature remote locations and sports with over a thousand people attending locally. Source: KIFI
- Bonneville Joint School District was awarded an $11,000 Technology Improvement Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to install, improve or replace child nutrition technology solutions. Source: Idaho Business Review
- The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting and/or groundbreaking ceremony at Northgate Fixxology. Establishments that either opened their doors within the past six months, moved to a new location due to expansion, or have remodeled or expanded their current location are highlighted. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
Custer County
- U.S. Bank in Mackay is closing. Source: Challis Messenger
- The Idaho Travel Council awarded a $162,000 Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant to Stanley-Sawtooth Chamber of Commerce and $25,000 to Challis Chamber of Commerce for tourism marketing. Source: Idaho Commerce
- The city of Stanley was awarded a $50,000 Idaho Gem Grant, administered by Idaho Commerce Rural Services, for infrastructure projects, including relocating the skating rink. Source: Idaho Commerce
- Custer County was awarded a $28,000 Rural Educational Professional Grant by the U.S. Small Business Administration, administered by Idaho Commerce Rural Services, to hire or retain a full-time economic development professional. Source: Idaho Commerce
Fremont County
- Idaho Broadband Advisory Board awarded a $30,000 BEAD Regional Coordination and Planning Grant to the city of Teton for the support and development of broadband action teams and coalitions. Source: Idaho Commerce
Jefferson County
- A new veterinary clinic, Bramwell Animal Hospital, is opening in Rigby. Source: Jefferson Star News
- The five-acre Jefferson Office Park is being developed in Rigby with five office buildings, two offices each. Source: Jefferson Star
- St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Mud Lake has been rebuilt and reopened after structure fire damage in 2021. Source: KIFI
- The Broulim family of Rigby, owner of Broulim’s Fresh Foods grocery stores, made a $7 million donation to construct a new field house at Rigby High School. Source: Jefferson Star
Lemhi County
- Lemhi County was awarded a $28,000 Rural Education Professional Grant by the U.S. Small Business Administration, administered by Idaho Commerce Rural Services, to hire or retain a full-time economic development professional. Source: Idaho Commerce
- The Idaho Travel Council awarded a $41,000 Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant to Lemhi County Economic Development Association for tourism marketing. Source: Idaho Commerce
Madison County
- Discount clothing store, Ross Dress for Less, is opening in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Tommy’s Car Wash opened in Rexburg. Source: Rexburg Chamber of Commerce
- Old Souls Bakery opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Pony Express Car Wash opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
- Idaho Broadband Advisory Board awarded a $25,000 BEAD Regional Coordination and Planning Grant to Madison County for the support and development of broadband action teams and coalitions. Source: Idaho Commerce
- The city of St. Anthony completed five pickleball courts and a splashpad at the new Merrill Rose Memorial Park. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
- Brigham Young University-Idaho reports a 6% winter semester increase over last year, with 20,500 students living in Rexburg. Source: BYU-Idaho
Teton County
- Pearl Street Bagels opened in Driggs, their third location. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
- A new interior design showroom, In Place Home, opened in Victor. It is a design firm that sells furnishings, assists with moving, professional organizing and estate sales. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
- Teton County was awarded a $30,000 Rural Education Professional Grant by the U.S. Small Business Administration, administered by Idaho Commerce Rural Services, to hire or retain a full-time economic development professional. Source: Idaho Commerce
- Teton Flats Apartments, a new four-building residential community in Victor, is opening this spring. Source: Buckrail
- Idaho Department of Water Resources announced a new Teton Basin groundwater district is forming within the next year. Source: Teton Valley News
- Over-the-year residential real estate transactions in Victor, Driggs, Tetonia and Alta decreased 4%and sales volume decreased 15% to close out 2024. Source: McPeak Group of Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International
Eastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – January 2023 and 2024
- With 90 more home listings in inventory than the same time last year in Bonneville County, the region’s largest housing market, home prices are lower over the year. In all the region’s urban counties, there are more homes in inventory with less pending homes being sold than at the same time last year.
| Median price sold | Jan-25 | Jan-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | $429,900 | $432,000 | -0.5% |
| Butte | $191,500 | $239,500 | -20.0% |
| Clark | $200,000 | $240,000 | -16.7% |
| Custer | $590,000 | $565,000 | 4.4% |
| Fremont | $750,000 | $699,200 | 7.3% |
| Jefferson | $480,000 | $486,300 | -1.3% |
| Lemhi | $522,500 | $626,000 | -16.5% |
| Madison | $407,200 | $379,900 | 7.2% |
| Teton | $990,000 | $822,000 | 20.4% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
| Active listings (inventory) | Jan-25 | Jan-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 357 | 267 | 33.7% |
| Butte | 9 | 17 | -47.1% |
| Clark | 1 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Custer | 26 | 28 | -7.1% |
| Fremont | 75 | 67 | 11.9% |
| Jefferson | 83 | 61 | 36.1% |
| Lemhi | 42 | 30 | 40.0% |
| Madison | 73 | 70 | 4.3% |
| Teton | 102 | 84 | 21.4% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Median days on market | Jan-25 | Jan-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 65 | 72 | -9.7% |
| Butte | 147 | 102 | 44.1% |
| Clark | 28 | 156 | -82.1% |
| Custer | 148 | 104 | 42.3% |
| Fremont | 133 | 117 | 13.7% |
| Jefferson | 84 | 83 | 1.2% |
| Lemhi | 125 | 123 | 1.6% |
| Madison | 85 | 70 | 21.4% |
| Teton | 116 | 134 | -13.4% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | #Colspan# | #Colspan# | #Colspan# |
| Total homes pending sale | Jan-25 | Jan-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 122 | 140 | -12.9% |
| Butte | 4 | 4 | 0.0% |
| Clark | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Custer | 12 | 1 | 100.0% |
| Fremont | 16 | 15 | 6.7% |
| Jefferson | 25 | 27 | -7.4% |
| Lemhi | 6 | 3 | 100.0% |
| Madison | 15 | 26 | -42.3% |
| Teton | 50 | 72 | -30.6% |
| Source: RDC Inventory Core Metrics | |||
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional news
- St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health have obtained Stroke Level III and STEMI Level II Time Sensitive Emergency designations. Source: Idaho County Free Press
Nez Perce County
- The A. Neil DeAtley Career Technical Education Center in Lewiston was awarded a $2.3 million grant from Idaho Career Ready students to add a space large enough for students to assemble larger projects such as tiny homes or jet boats. The new addition will also house lab areas and a dedicated space for information technology courses. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- United Airlines flew out of the Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport for the last time Jan. 31st. The Skywest employees managing United’s daily flight between Lewiston and Denver will transfer to operating Delta flights. The airport will experience no layoffs. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- McDonald’s in Lewiston completed a recent renovation providing new ordering kiosks, charging stations for cell phones and laptops, and an exclusive kitchen area for assembling take-out delivery orders. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Halme Construction of Spokane was awarded a $6.7 million contract to start rebuilding water infrastructure that directs water from the Clearwater River to the City of Lewiston’s water treatment plant. Total project cost is estimated to be around $16 million. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Beautiful Downtown Lewiston will merge operations with the Lewis-Clark Chamber of Commerce and plans to hire a part-time Main Street director to coordinate events in downtown Lewiston. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- The Lewiston school board approved a plan to reset elementary school boundaries starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The process was needed to evenly distribute elementary school enrollment. Source: Lewiston School District
- Snake River Community Clinic was awarded a $160,000 grant by the Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity. The grant will allow the free service clinic to extend operational hours, optimize its electronic health record system and establish new risk management policies. Source: KOZE
- Lapwai High School will be added to Lewis-Clark State College’s TRIO Educational Talent Search program along with Timberline, Orofino, Kooskia, Grangeville and Kamiah. The program will provide academic advising, college and technical school information, college tours, tutoring and other educational assistance. Source: Lewis-Clark State College
Idaho County
- Syringa Hospital completed renovation of the new Specialty Clinic in the Therapy Services building in Grangeville. Cardiologists at the clinic are offering cardio and vascular consultation services and simple diagnostics. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- Completion of the new Idaho County jail is currently scheduled for October 2025. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- The River Rock Café in Riggins is under new ownership and will begin operating as the Amigo Mexican Restaurant in March 2025. Source: Idaho County Free Press
Latah County
- The University of Idaho and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) signed a five-year Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research agreement to produce collaborative research of nuclear materials and fuel cycle engineering, integrated energy systems and cybersecurity. The University of Idaho’s nuclear engineering program was founded in 1954 through a partnership with INL. Source: Daily Fly
- The University of Idaho was designated an R1 research university in the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. An R1 classification requires at least $50 million in annual research expenses and graduate at least 70 research doctorates each year. This is the first university in Idaho to be given the designation. Source: The University of Idaho
- Gritman Medical Center closed the Martin Wellness Center at the end of January due to elevated maintenance expenses. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- CHS Primeland has hired Elder Demolition to demolish the Kendrick concrete grain elevator after it experienced an August 2024 rupture. The project is estimated to take six months to complete. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Smart Transit and Dial-A-Ride experienced a three-day pause in operations during the first week of February due to an external insurance issue. Source: Smart Transit
- JoAnn Fabric and Crafts has announced plans to close its Moscow store at Palouse Place as part of bankruptcy proceedings. It will also be closing its Clarkston store across the river in Asotin County. Source: JoAnn Fabric and Crafts
- Chick-fil-A is constructing a new building at the former Sangria restaurant location in Moscow. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2025. Chick-fil-A currently operates on the University of Idaho campus. Source: Pullman Radio
- Palouse Mall has been renamed Palouse Place. Source: Palouse Place
Lewis County
- After merging operations with the Idaho County Free Press, the Clearwater Progress has closed its Kamiah office. The Upriver Youth Leadership Council recovery center and administrative operations will move into the former Clearwater Progress building in Kamiah. Source: Idaho County Free Press
Openings
- Rite Coffee Co., Moscow
- Judy Nearly New Boutique and More, Juliaetta
- Amy’s restaurant, Cottonwood
- NRH Construction, Grangeville
- CNR Enterprises construction, Lewiston
- Refuge Cigar Lounge, Moscow
Closings
- Big Lots, Lewiston
- Filling Station café, Troy
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Regional labor market information
- In January 2025 there were 1,308 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which increased 13% from the prior month at 1,153 and decreased 5% over the year at 1,374. The median job posting duration was 34 days, three days more than December and nine days more than January 2024.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Jan-25 | Postings, Jan-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers, laborers, crop, nursery and greenhouse | 46 | 3 |
| Retail salespersons | 24 | 23 |
| Heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers | 22 | 26 |
| Registered nurses | 21 | 31 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 15 | 13 |
| Customer service representatives | 11 | 11 |
| Maintenance, repair workers and general | 11 | 7 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 10 | 5 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 10 | 8 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 9 | 7 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for January were health care, sales and farming. Among specific occupations, farmworkers and greenhouse workers were at the top of the list with 46 postings, followed by retail salespersons (24) and registered nurses (21).
| Top industries by job unique postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Jan-25 | Postings, Jan-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering services | 49 | 14 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 44 | 64 |
| Other general government support | 21 | 14 |
| Automotive parts and accessories retailers | 16 | 4 |
| Limited service restaurants | 15 | 11 |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 14 | 30 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 14 | 21 |
| Commercial and institutional building construction | 12 | 16 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 12 | 6 |
| Commercial banking | 12 | 3 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Health care and social assistance, retail, trade and professional services are at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in January. This includes general medical and surgical hospitals, engineering services and supermarkets. Automotive, commercial construction and engineering doubled or tripled in postings. Other industries such as direct health, colleges and hospitals experienced a decrease in postings compared to January 2024.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho | Median duration, Jan-25 | Unique postings, Jan-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | 29 | 5 |
| Paralegals and legal assistants | 29 | 1 |
| Driver and sales workers | 28 | 7 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 27 | 5 |
| Food service managers | 26 | 5 |
| Stationary engineers and boiler operators | 22 | 2 |
| Epidemiologists | 22 | 2 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 21 | 15 |
| Cardiovascular technologists and technicians | 20 | 1 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale, manufacturing, technical and scientific products | 17 | 6 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, legal and food preparation were at the top of the list of hardest-to-fill occupations in January, including paralegals (29 days) and fast food workers (27 days). Retail supervisors also made the list of top in demand occupations.
| County housing data, January 2025 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $394,925 | 1.26% | 75 | 257 |
| Bear Lake | $397,250 | -31.02% | 139 | 42 |
| Bingham | $417,475 | 4.70% | 84 | 116 |
| Caribou | $451,975 | 11.60% | 87 | 20 |
| Franklin | $541,750 | 10.96% | 63 | 37 |
| Oneida | $423,725 | -6.26% | 149 | 19 |
| Power | $379,000 | 0.00% | 119 | 18 |
| Source: Realtor.com Economic Research | ||||
- There was some negative price movement in January in most counties while there was a large increase in Caribou County and a large decrease in Bear Lake County. The county with the longest median time on the market was Bear Lake County at 139 days. Power County had the lowest median listing price in the region while Franklin was the hottest with the lowest median of 63 days on the market.
Regional news
Bannock County
- The Salvation Army of Pocatello opened its warming shelter and handed out donated warm clothes and blankets. Source: KPVI News
- A drone battery manufacturing facility caught fire but was quickly extinguished by firefighters. There were no injuries and the building is believed by firefighters to not have suffered critical damage. Source: Idaho State Journal
- A small fire broke out at Portneuf Medical Center in a staff office when a power cord ignited. It was put out by staff with a fire extinguisher, but the Pocatello Fire Department was dispatched as a precaution. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bannock County broke ground on the new Youth Development Center which aims to be a day treatment center for teens at high risk of expulsion. Source: KPVI News
- The mayor of Chubbuck issued a statement on the closure of JCPenney stating that he believes the store will be closing in May. Source: East Idaho News
- Video Stop, the last video rental store in Pocatello, closed after nearly three decades. Source: Idaho State Journal
- A new airsoft arena and a family clinic opened. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bear Lake County
- The Butch Cassidy Museum’s owner is looking to sell. Acquired in 2015, the former Bank of Montpelier was converted into a museum commemorating the famous robbery. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bear Lake High School collected over 1,000 pounds of food for the Idaho Association of Student Councils’ initiative. The food was donated to the SEICCA food bank. Source: The News Examiner
- Ohana Grill in the City of Montpelier gave a vacation to Hawaii to a Bear Lake High School student as part of a girls basketball halftime promotion. Source: The News Examiner
Caribou County
- The Soda Springs Fire Department held its first Valentine’s Ball to raise funds for Main Street renovations. Source: The News Examiner
Oneida County
- The Nell J Redfield hospital celebrated its 100th year with a new upgraded operating table and surgical lights to enhance the quality of care for the community. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- A new Friends of the Children chapter opened in American Falls. The organization works to identify and mentor at risk youth. Source: KPVI News
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.