Tag: Southeastern Idaho
Regional labor market information
- Labor force estimates for December 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had civilian labor force, total employment and total unemployment increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, December’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 8.5%, with 8.2% more employed people and 1.7% more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.7%, with no change from November 2024 and 0.5% higher than December 2023.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Dec-24 (P) | Nov-24 (R) | Dec-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 91,952 | 91,175 | 88,362 |
| Total employment | 88,507 | 87,787 | 85,561 |
| Unemployment | 3,445 | 3,388 | 2,801 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In December 2024, there were 1,150 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which decreased 12.9% from the prior month at 1,320 and 11.4% over the year at 1,298. The median job posting duration was 31 days, the same as November and increased one day from December 2023.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers, laborers, crop, nursery and greenhouse | 19 | 0 |
| Retail salespersons | 18 | 18 |
| Registered nurses | 15 | 32 |
| Heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers | 12 | 13 |
| Production workers and all other | 10 | 7 |
| Nursing assistants | 9 | 6 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 9 | 3 |
| Civil engineers | 8 | 2 |
| Tellers | 7 | 0 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 6 | 12 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for December were health care, sales and related and office administrative support occupations. Among specific occupations, farmworkers and greenhouse workers were at the top of the list with 19 unique online postings, followed by retail salespersons (19), registered nurses (15), civil engineers (8) and tellers (7).
| Top industries by job unique postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Dec-24 | Postings, Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 50 | 47 |
| District health and medical insurance carriers | 16 | 13 |
| Other general government support | 15 | 10 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 12 | 8 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 11 | 20 |
| Frozen fruit, juice and vegetable manufacturing | 8 | 22 |
| Dried and dehydrated food manufacturing | 8 | 6 |
| Other snack food manufacturing | 7 | 10 |
| Cosmetics, beauty supplies and perfume retailers | 6 | 3 |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 6 | 4 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, finance and professional services are again at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in December. These top unique job postings were similar to December 2023: cosmetics increased by 100% and there was a 50% increase in government support, supermarkets and gas stations. Among postings with a decrease, there was a 64% drop in frozen fruit juice and vegetable manufacturing postings since last year.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho | Median duration, Dec-24 | Unique postings, Dec-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Tellers | 23 | 7 |
| First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | 21 | 4 |
| Security guards | 18 | 2 |
| Transportation, storage and distribution managers | 18 | 1 |
| Cardiologists | 18 | 1 |
| General and operations managers | 17 | 1 |
| Heating, air, conditioning, refrigeration mechanics and installers | 17 | 2 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 16 | 10 |
| Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services and travel | 16 | 1 |
| Purchasing managers | 16 | 1 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, office and administrative support occupations stood out in December, including tellers (23 days) and first-line supervisors of office workers (21 days). Tellers also just barely made the list of the most in demand occupations.
| County housing data, December 2024 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $390,000 | -1.24% | 75 | 303 |
| Bear Lake | $575,900 | -0.54% | 121 | 51 |
| Bingham | $398,750 | -4.20% | 70 | 122 |
| Caribou | $405,000 | 14.08% | 96 | 23 |
| Franklin | $488,250 | -14.27% | 84 | 38 |
| Oneida | $452,000 | 1.70% | 138 | 18 |
| Power | $379,000 | -2.57% | 103 | 19 |
| Source: Realtor.com Economic Research | ||||
- There was some negative price movement in December in most counties while there was a large increase in Caribou County and a large decrease in Franklin. The county with the longest median time on the market was Oneida County at 138 days. Power County had the lowest median listing price in the region while Bingham was the hottest with the lowest median of 70 days on the market, an increase from 52 days as moves slowed due to the holidays.
Regional news
Bannock County
- Pocatello Police announced its acquisition of $102,000 in license plate readers from Flock Safety to be installed around the city. The readers will capture license plate numbers and vehicle information to aid in investigations such as robbery, murder, theft and missing persons. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center opened for the season. Activities include skiing and snowshoeing. Source: KIFI News
- Blades Salon and Spa in Pocatello held a fundraiser assisting a salon employee to finance the adoption of her niece. Around one third of the $3,000 required was raised. Source: KIFI News
- The Pocatello Naval Ordinance Plant is being converted to Idaho’s largest indoor soccer field. Source: East Idaho News
- Summit Commercial Real Estate of Boise announced their client, Raising Canes, is poised to open a new restaurant in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Pocatello Car Club achieved nonprofit status and now seeks to construct motorsport complexes in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Tender Loving Childcare, a nonprofit daycare in Pocatello, is seeking community donations after it was almost closed due to lack of funding. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Lava Hot Springs Senior center is seeking funds ahead of its 90th birthday in 2026. Rocky Mountain Power presented a $4,500 grant for new windows. Source: KIFI News
- The Pocatello-Chubbuck School District held a public hearing to discuss declining enrollment and the potential of school closures. The district voted to close Washington Elementary on Jan. 21. Source: KIFI News, Idaho State Journal
- Idaho State University received a $415,000 grant for genetic disorder research such as 3MC Syndrome. Source: ISU News
- The third annual Pike Fest was held at Zoo Idaho in Pocatello. Visitors enjoyed cider and beer as the animals relaxed for a winter nap. Funds from the event will go towards the animals and facilities. Source: KIFI News, KPVI News
- The 18th annual Sportsmen Against Hunger event was held at the C-A-L Ranch Chubbuck. Last year, the event raised over $3,000 for the Idaho Foodbank. Source: Idaho Fish and Game
- The U.S. Department of Education provided a $4.5 million grant to Idaho State University to provide financial assistance to psychology majors. Source: East Idaho News
- Big Lots in Pocatello closed. Source: East Idaho News
Bear Lake County
- The cellphone ban, by the Bear Lake School District in 2024, has resulted in staff reporting mental health and socialization improvements among students. Interviewed students were of mixed opinion saying art classes are more difficult without image references from their phones while others reported improved mental health and focus. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bear Lake Furniture Company, in Montpelier city, was purchased by Azdyn Bartschi and his wife, Daesha. They plan to shorten the name to just Bear Lake Furniture and extend the business hours to be regular instead of appointment only. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bingham County
- The Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission met to hear arguments for a conditional permit to begin gravel mining. Source: KIFI News
- The Blackfoot Animal Shelter and Rescue received a $100,000 grant from the Shoshone Bannock tribes. Source: KPVI News
Caribou County
- The Bureau of Land Management sought public opinion on the new proposed Caldwell Canyon Phosphate Mine. The revised proposal comes after a federal judge blocked the previous deal citing concerns about sage grouse and violating the National Environmental Policy Act. Source: Bureau of Land Management, Center for Biological Diversity
- The Caribou Medical Center in the city of Soda Springs held a baby expo to showcase the hospital’s maternity wing remodel and to hold classes for expectant mothers. Source: The News Examiner
- Kaylee Peck of Soda Springs opened a new equine insurance firm. Source: The News Examiner
Franklin County
- The town of Oxford was disincorporated into Franklin County. The 40 residents of the town had struggled to fill city council positions, plough roads and grappled with the lack of sewer and water supply. Residents hope this move will help to manage and preserve the small but historic town. Source: The Preston Citizen
Oneida County
- The new Malad Elementary School opened its doors in January. This opened a new chapter for the city, as the old elementary is slated for demolition. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- The Power County Youth Center celebrated its history and discussed its future. They are seeking donations and community support to find a permanent location, as they have been renting the basement of the United Methodist Church. Source: Idaho State Journal
- A new online business, Rugged Peach Workwear based in American Falls, offers high visibility safety shirts for pregnant women in manufacturing. Source: East Idaho 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
- Labor force estimates for November 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics saw both the civilian labor force and total employment number decreasing and total unemployment rate increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, November’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants decreasing by 21 people, with 148 less employed people and 127 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.7%, a 0.1% increase from October 2024 and 0.5% higher than November 2023.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Nov-24 (P) | Oct-24 (R) | Nov-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 91,292 | 91,313 | 88,629 |
| Total employment | 87,911 | 88,059 | 85,809 |
| Unemployment | 3,381 | 3,254 | 2,820 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In November 2024, there were 1,316 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which decreased 15% from the prior month at 1,557 and 8% over the year at 1,433. The median job posting duration was 31 days, an increase of two days from October and an increase of seven days from November 2023.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Nov-24 | Postings, Nov-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 19 | 28 |
| Retail salespersons | 19 | 18 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 13 | 9 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 12 | 7 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 11 | 9 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general | 10 | 10 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 8 | 16 |
| Food service managers | 8 | 0 |
| Cashiers | 7 | 3 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 7 | 8 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for November were sales and related, health care and management occupations. Among specific occupations, registered nurses were at the top of the list with 19 unique online postings, followed by retail salespersons (19), first line retail supervisors (13), merchandise displayers (12) and hand material movers (11).
| Top industries by job unique postings in southeastern Idaho | Postings, Nov-24 | Postings, Nov-23 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 43 | 49 |
| District health and medical insurance carriers | 14 | 18 |
| Commercial and institutional building construction | 13 | 10 |
| Clothing and clothing accessories retailers | 12 | 4 |
| Other general government support | 11 | 8 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 10 | 15 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 9 | 14 |
| Stationary and office supplies merchant wholesalers | 8 | 0 |
| Commercial banking | 7 | 5 |
| Full-service restaurants | 7 | 0 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, finance and professional services are at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in November. These top unique job postings were similar to November 2023 but broadly decreased since last year: hospitals decreased by 12%, insurance by 22%, colleges by 33% and supermarkets by 36%. Large increases were still observed in clothing retailers by 200% and construction by 30%.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho | Median duration, Nov-24 | Unique postings, Nov-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Home health and personal care aides | 28 | 19 |
| Purchasing managers | 28 | 0 |
| Parts salespersons | 26 | 0 |
| Court, municipal and license clerks | 25 | 0 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 23 | 4 |
| Financial risk specialists | 23 | 0 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 22 | 0 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 22 | 5 |
| Dishwashers | 22 | 13 |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers | 17 | 0 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, management and business and finance occupations stood out in November, including purchasing managers (28 days) and financial risk specialists (23 days). Registered nurses had a median posting duration of zero days with 19 postings in November —indicating the positions are being filled rapidly.
| County housing data, November 2024 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $394,900 | -1.25% | 74 | 323 |
| Bear Lake | $579,000 | 0.13% | 100 | 62 |
| Bingham | $416,250 | 1.57% | 52 | 123 |
| Caribou | $355,000 | 1.43% | 112 | 30 |
| Franklin | $569,500 | 0.24% | 93 | 42 |
| Oneida | $444,450 | 1.24% | 110 | 22 |
| Power | $389,000 | 0% | 71 | 20 |
| Source: Realtor.com Economic Research | ||||
- There was some negative price movement in November in Bannock County while there were increases in Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin and Oneida. Power County median home prices remained the same. The county with the longest median time on the market was Caribou County at 112 days. Power County had the lowest median listing price in the region while Bingham was the hottest with the lowest median of 52 days on the market.
Regional news
Bannock County
- Puerto Vallarta Mexican restaurant held its ninth annual free Thanksgiving community dinner. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Chubbuck Lions, a civic organization, held its “Graysgiving” event in Sacajawea Park to raise money for the Special Needs Christmas Dinner in December. Source: KPVI News
- The Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho performed a $50,000 operation to repair a local Pocatello man’s teeth as a part of their annual promotion. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Portneuf Cancer Center held a ribbon cutting for their new Varian True Beam Linear Accelerator. This machine is the main tool for radiation oncologists to fight various types of cancer. Before this change, patients from Pocatello would have to travel a distance for this treatment, usually to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. Source: KPVI News
- Portneuf Health announced Nate Carter, previously serving as the interim CEO, will now be the official CEO for the hospital. Source: East Idaho News
- The Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25, as a part of their new committee to address enrollment, is discussing the closure of Washington Elementary School as enrollment decreases and maintenance fees increase. Total enrollment in the district decreased by 1,000 students compared to seven years ago, 740 students of which have been in elementary schools. In response, there was a march in protest for the suggested change comprised of students, teachers and families from Caldwell Park to the school. Source: Idaho State Journal, KIFI News
- Barrie’s Ski and Sports received $1,600 from two local children to contribute to their annual food drive. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The metal and punk concert in downtown Pocatello, Mosh for Santa, was held for the benefit of the Southeast Idaho Toys for Tots program. The concert has raised $20,000 in its six-year history. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Portneuf Valley Brewing held a craft fair event to showcase local handmade products including pottery, blankets and hand-blown glass. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bicycles for Recovery, in conjunction with the Friendship Club and Center of Hope South, is seeking funding from grants and private donation to provide bicycles for those struggling with mental health and addiction. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The annual Christmas Night Lights Parade was held in Pocatello. Source: KIFI News
- The Ladies Holiday Tea event was held for a third year in Pocatello’s Juniper Hills Country Club to benefit local charities. Events included an auction, raffle, lunch and fashion show while attendees raised $8,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of southeast Idaho and the Gate City Singers. Source: KPVI News
- Idaho State University intends to sell the Magnuson Alumni House due to the high cost of maintenance. The school intends to work with Colliers Real Estate to find a potential buyer. The property is expected to be maintained as a historic residence. Source: Idaho State University News
- Macy’s Apples and Hives, Swore Farms, Evans Farmstead Cheese and CreeAnna’s were among the vendors present in the first Christmas Market at the Westwood Mall. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bear Lake County
- The Paris Elementary School library received a $3,000 grant from the Idaho Lottery. Source: The News-Examiner
Bingham County
- The Christmas Tree Fantasy was held at the Eastern Idaho Fairground. The fundraiser collects donated trees and other Christmas decorations to auction off for local charities. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Kiwanis Club, a service club, has returned to Blackfoot after getting the prerequisite 15 members to form a board and hold internal elections. The club seeks to serve youth and family in the region by encouraging service projects, leadership skills and fostering youth engagement in the community. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Christmas tree tradition in Blackfoot was revived thanks to a $6,000 investment from the city after being suspended during the pandemic. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Community Dinner Table, a Christian church coalition formed to serve a weekly free meal, served its 100,000th meal. Source: Idaho State Journal
Caribou County
- Shane and Camille Petersen, owners of Idan-Ha theaters and The Centre theater, revamped a pizzeria in Soda Springs, renaming it Grumpy Guy’s Pizza. Source: The News-Examiner
Franklin County
- Five-hundred people participated and volunteered at the Bear River Massacre site restoration — reintroducing 23 native plant species back to the 350-acre plot of land. Source Idaho State Journal
Oneida County
- The Malad Dragon wrestlers held a fundraiser raffle to raise money to compete in northern Idaho. The IronDoor Smokehouse was present for catering and Ward’s Ace and Country Store was present as a Federal Firearms License holder to support the transfer of several raffled firearms. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- The American Falls Airport was renamed to Savage Field to honor Dave Savage for his years of service to the local aviation community. The completion of the revamped runway is set to be open in June 2025. Source: Power County Press
- Hillcrest Elementary in American Falls raised $13,000 during their read-a-thon with nearly 163,000 minutes read. Donations were matched by a fraternal financial services organization, Modern Woodmen of America, with up to $2,500. Source: Power County Press
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 force estimates for October 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had total employment and total unemployment increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, October’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 246 people, with 184 more employed people and 62 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6%, a 0.1% increase from September 2024 and 0.3% higher than October 2023.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Oct-24 (P) | Sep-24 (R) | Oct-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 91,325 | 91,079 | 88,516 |
| Total employment | 88,071 | 87,887 | 85,631 |
| Unemployment | 3,254 | 3,192 | 2,885 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, R – Revised, B – Benchmarked | ||
- In October 2024 there were 622 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which increased 17% from the prior month at 532 and 8% over the year at 578. The median job posting duration was 15 days, up three days from September and up six days from October 2023.
| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho, October 2024 | Postings, Oct-24 | Postings, Oct-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 37 | 15 |
| Registered nurses | 27 | 26 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 19 | 21 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 16 | 7 |
| Customer service representatives | 14 | 22 |
| General and operations managers | 13 | 10 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers | 13 | 11 |
| Laborers, freight, stock, material movers and hand | 10 | 7 |
| Janitors, cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 10 | 5 |
| Secretaries, administrative assistants, except legal, medical and executive | 8 | 5 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho for October were health care practitioners and technical, sales and related, transportation and management, and transportation and material moving occupations. Among specific occupations, retail salespersons are at the top of the list with 37 unique online postings, followed by registered nurses with 27 postings, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with 19 postings, retail first-line supervisors with 16 postings and customer service representatives with 14 postings.
| Top industries by job unique postings in southeastern Idaho, October 2024 | Postings, Oct-24 | Postings, Oct-23 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 75 | 51 |
| Other general government support | 22 | 11 |
| Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) | 21 | 3 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 21 | 17 |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 18 | 28 |
| Department stores | 17 | 9 |
| All other support services | 14 | 0 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 14 | 0 |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 13 | 3 |
| Commercial and institutional building construction | 11 | 9 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Figure 3 shows health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, education services and public administration are at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in October. Looking at specific industries, medical and surgical hospitals had the most unique job postings and increased year over year by 47%. There were large year-over-year increases in all other support services, elementary schools, supermarkets and other grocery retailers.
| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho, October 2024 | Median duration, Oct-24 | Unique postings, Oct-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Home health and personal care aides | 29 | 8 |
| Painting, coating and decorating workers | 25 | 1 |
| Parking attendants | 25 | 3 |
| Insurance appraisers and auto damage | 24 | 1 |
| Market research analysts and marketing specialists | 22 | 3 |
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | 22 | 1 |
| Registered nurses | 20 | 27 |
| Marketing managers | 20 | 1 |
| Medical assistants | 20 | 7 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | 19 | 2 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast |
- Figure 4 highlights industries that stood out in October for the median number of days an occupational job posting is listed. Based on the hiring challenges by median number of days an occupational job posting is listed, the business and finance and health care support occupations stood out in October, with insurance appraiser postings at a median duration of 24 days, market research analysts at 22 days, home health aides at 29 days and medical assistants at 20 days. Registered nurses, defined as health care practitioners rather than health care support workers, were one of the top in-demand jobs in the region.
| County housing data, October 2024 | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock | $399,900 | -2.75% | 72 | 320 |
| Bear Lake | $578,225 | -6.31% | 98 | 67 |
| Bingham | $409,825 | -7.8% | 58 | 126 |
| Caribou | $350,000 | 0.73 | 102 | 31 |
| Franklin | $568,125 | 10.53% | 80 | 48 |
| Oneida | $439,000 | 3.92% | 85 | 23 |
| Power | $389,000 | 0% | 75 | 24 |
| Source: Realtor.com | ||||
- There was some negative price movement in October in Bannock, Bear Lake and Bingham counties while there was a substantial 11% median price increase in Franklin County. The county with the longest median time on the market was Caribou County at 102 days. Power County had the lowest median listing price in the region at $389,000 while Bingham County had the shortest median days on the market at 58.
Regional news
Bannock County
- The Idaho Bassheads, a Pocatello car club, held its fundraiser for Toys for Tots. The same event also held a trunk-or-treat immediately following the fundraiser. In 2023, this event raised $3,000 and served 1,000 children during the trunk-or-treat event. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Pocatello and Chubbuck School District created a committee to review elementary and middle school attendance to optimize capacity. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Pocatello Fire Department quickly contained a fire in downtown Pocatello after spotting smoke from the location. This fire, at Acute Rescue and Transport, was later investigated as arson. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Idaho State University (ISU) Community Psychiatric Center opened to treat patients 14 years and older who are experiencing a variety of mental health struggles. Source: East Idaho News
- ISU reported its fourth consecutive enrollment increase at 3.5%. The Fall 2024 class is the largest first-year student class this decade. Source: Idaho EdNews
- The Pebble Creek Ski Area unveiled its new conveyor lift, installed on the Aspen Beginner Area. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Brady Chapel held a ribbon cutting for the restoration of the historical Pocatello building. This was the result of $13,000 in donations raised by the Friends of Brady Chapel, Idaho Heritage Trust and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Source: East Idaho News
- The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree passed through Pocatello on its way from Alaska to Washington DC during the Veterans Day parade. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Openings included The Martlet (a brewery), Community All-Stars (a theater nonprofit) and Blush Beauty Spa. Source: KIFI News, Idaho State Journal
Bear Lake County
- The Bear Lake School District updated its stage lighting thanks to the Bear Lake Education Foundation, community fundraising amounting to over $16,000 in contributions and a grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts. The state-of-the-art lighting improves the quality of the school’s stage productions. Source: The News Examiner
Bingham County
- The Jason Lee United Methodist church hosted its Holiday Bazaar featuring homemade crafts and sweets. There were 166 lunches served at a cost of $12 each. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Blackfoot Does, in association with the Elk fraternity, raised $721.12 with a cornhole tournament for foster families in Blackfoot. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi opened. Source: East Idaho News
Caribou County
- The Soda Springs Presbyterian Church hosted its annual Harvest Bazaar. An event that has taken place since 1942, the bazaar serves dinner to guests and host a variety of baked goods, handmade items and a silent auction. The event raised about $6,300. Source: The News Examiner, Idaho State Journal
- Soda Springs opened a new Maverik and Liberty Car Dealership. Source: The News-Examiner, Idaho State Journal
Franklin County
- Preston held its annual downtown trick-or-treat event where local businesses pitched in to hand out treats. Source: The Preston Citizen
Oneida County
- The Oneida Pioneer Museum reported 700 visitors in 2024, about the same as 2023. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- The American Falls Airport grand opening was delayed for weather concerns. They received a $700,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Association and $5 million from the Association for Small Town Airports. Source: The Power County Press
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 denotes labor force estimates from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) had total employment decreasing and total unemployment increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, September’s preliminary estimates had labor force participants decreasing by 782 people, with 819 fewer employed and 37 more unemployed. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5%, the same as August 2024 and 0.4 percentage points higher than September 2023.
Figure 1.| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Sep-24 (P) | Aug-24 (R) | Sep-23 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 90,282 | 91,064 | 88,378 |
| Total employment | 87,092 | 87,911 | 85,620 |
| Unemployment | 3,190 | 3,153 | 2,758 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.1% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P - Preliminary, | R - Revised, | B - Benchmark |
There were 617 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area in September, up 10% from the prior month at 559, but down 14% over the year at 717. The median job posting duration was 12 days, down one day from August and up three days from September 2023. Looking at Figure 2, top occupational families by unique online job postings were health care, sales and retail, office administrative support and transportation. Among specific occupations, retail salespersons were at the top of the list with 36 postings, while nursing assistants were at the bottom with 9.
Figure 2.| Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho, September 2024 | Postings, Sep-24 | Postings, Sep-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 36 | 20 |
| Registered nurses | 32 | 35 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 17 | 9 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 16 | 18 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | 13 | 11 |
| Secretaries, administrative assistants, except legal, medical and executive | 10 | 10 |
| Customer service representatives | 10 | 14 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 9 | 12 |
| Nursing assistants | 9 | 9 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast. Data is not seasonally adjusted | ||
As seen in Figure 3, health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, public administration and educational services were at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in September. Looking at specific industries, there were large year-over-year increases; up 83% for gas stations with convenience stores, 127% for colleges and 120% for clothing accessory retailers.
Figure 3.| Top 10 industries by unique job postings in southeastern Idaho, September 2024 | Postings, Sep-24 | Postings, Sep-23 |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 96 | 73 |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools | 25 | 11 |
| Other general government support | 22 | 27 |
| Commercial and institutional building construction | 17 | 15 |
| Department stores | 16 | 19 |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 16 | 14 |
| Frozen fruit, juice and vegetable manufacturing | 12 | 15 |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 11 | 6 |
| Clothing and clothing accessories retailers | 11 | 5 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 11 | 52 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast. Data is not seasonally adjusted. | ||
Figure 4 highlights industries that stood out in September for the median number of days an occupational job posting is listed. Stockers had the greatest duration with 21 days, followed by social service assistance with 20 days, inventory clerks with 19 days, and both human resources and biological scientists with 18 days each. Meanwhile, heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving was the top job for number of unique postings.
Figure 4.| Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations in southeastern Idaho, September 2024 | Median duration, Sep-24 | Unique postings, Sep-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and order fillers | 21 | 4 |
| Social and human service assistants | 20 | 2 |
| Shipping, receiving and inventory clerks | 19 | 3 |
| Human resource assistants, except payroll and timekeeping | 18 | 1 |
| Biological scientists, all other | 18 | 1 |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers | 17 | 1 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 16 | 17 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners | 16 | 7 |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines | 16 | 2 |
| Cashiers | 15 | 7 |
| Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast. Data is not seasonally adjusted. | ||
Regional news
- The Fort Hall Fire Department hosted a groundbreaking for its new fire station. Source: Sho-Ban News
- Idaho firefighters battled three fires in Fort Hall, Bear Lake and Caribou counties. While there weren’t any evacuations, the fire risked damaging power lines and cell phone towers. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bannock County
- The National Institutes of Health awarded a $1.7 million grant to Idaho State University (ISU) to assist first-generation and low-income students. ISU has received over $18 million in donations in the 2024 fiscal year. Source: Idaho Business Review, KIFI News
- Tutor.com partnered with the Portneuf District Library in Pocatello to provide free tutoring for library card holders. Source: KIFI News
- The Portneuf Medical Center restored its air conditioning after a 10-day outage. After securing over 200 fans and 60 portable air conditioning units, only a few surgeries required rescheduling. Source: Idaho State Journal and East Idaho News
- The city of Chubbuck held its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency, M&M Contracting and Franklin Building Supply provided a new roof to a local Pocatello resident in need. Source: Idaho State Journal.
- The Pocatello City Council voted to approve Pocatello’s new tagline “The One and Only” and logo. Additionally, the city contracted HUB Collective to prepare a new style guide for use with nametags, vehicles, building signs and other official media. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Pocatello held its annual ghost tour to showcase the city’s Historic Downtown as well as raise funds for projects. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Pocatello became the first city in Idaho to receive Google Fiber service, giving residents another choice of internet provider. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Bannock County allocated $1 million for a fairgrounds exhibit hall in Downey, as well as $2 million for the creation of the Bannock County Youth Development Center. These funds are part of the COVID-19 pandemic’s American Rescue Plan Act, which has provided $17 million to the county. Source: Idaho State Journal
- In September, Bannock County median home prices remained stable compared to last month, decreasing 2% year-over-year to $411,200. Listing prices for 331 homes in inventory went up and spent a median of 64 days on the market. Source: Realtor.com
- Business openings in the county include a trading card shop, Cardatello, Fifth Street Bagelry and a medieval weapons and armor shop, Swords and Sorcery.
Bear Lake County
- Bear Lake High School hosted its annual bonfire, a Student Life Committee initiative aimed at fostering a sense of belonging among students. Source: The News Examiner
- In September, Bear Lake County median home listing prices decreased 4% from last month but increased 33% year-over-year to $617,200. Listing prices for 72 homes in inventory dropped 3% and spent a median of 106 days on the market. Source: Realtor.com
- Big Chubbs, a new catering business, opened in the city of Montpelier. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bingham County
- A fire burned 100 acres of farm and grassland south of Blackfoot on the Fort Hall Reservation. Source: KIFI News
- Aberdeen City Council awarded a $17.26 million construction bid to Star for a new water treatment plant. Source: The Aberdeen Times
- Glanbia Nutritionals donated 40 pounds of cheese to the Blackfoot Community Pantry and Outreach, valuing at $25,000. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Shelley opened a new veteran’s monument to replace an older damaged one. Source: KPVI News
- Blackfoot Blackhawk BBQ Pit was ranked 57th in the top 250 barbecue restaurants across the country by BetUs analytics, based on Google reviews. Source: Idaho State Journal
- In September, Bingham County median home listing prices decreased 1% from last month and 6% year-over-year to $444,500. Listing prices for 110 homes in inventory dropped 7% and spent a median of 64 days on the market. Source: Realtor.com
- Cut N Run Hair Co. opened in Blackfoot. Source: Idaho State Journal
Caribou County
- The Soda Springs school board put a $50 million bond on the ballot to rebuild the high school citing problems with heating, ventilation and air conditioning, a cracked foundation, an unsafe parking lot and dated outdoor modular classrooms. Source: The News Examiner
- In September, Caribou County median home listing prices decreased 1% from last month but increased 20% year-over-year to $347,450. Listing prices for 37 homes in inventory remained steady and spent a median of 73 days on the market. Source: Realtor.com
Franklin County
- Preston City Council approved a project to improve the Preston Airport. Additionally, the council approved measures to rezone three parcels to allow more affordable housing units. Source: The Preston Citizen
- In September, Franklin County median home listing prices increased 4% from last month and 4% year-over-year to $514,000. Listing prices for 53 homes in inventory dropped 4% and spent a median of 73 days on the market. Source: Realtor.com
Oneida County
- Oneida Stake Academy received funding from the Delores Dore Eccles Foundation, Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation, Laura Cunnigham Moore Foundation and Stokes Market to install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and new gutters in the historical building. Source: The Preston Citizen
- In September, Oneida County median home listing prices decreased 18% from last month but increased 37% year-over-year to $422,450. Listing prices for 25 homes in inventory dropped 2% and spent a median of 58 days on the market. Source: Realtor.com
- Valley View Counseling opened in the city of Malad. Source: The Idaho Enterprise
Power County
- In September, Power County median home listing prices increased 3% from last month and decreased 15% year-over-year to $389,000. Listing prices for 22 homes in inventory went up 13% and spent a median of 62 days on the market. Source: Realtor.com
Southeastern Idaho residential real estate statistics – September 2023 and 2024
Figure 5.
| County | Median listing price | Month over month price change | Median days on the market | Pending sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | $411,200 | 0.0032 | 64 | 118 |
| Bear Lake | $617,200 | -0.0348 | 106 | 12 |
| Bingham | $444,500 | -0.012 | 64 | 51 |
| Caribou | $347,450 | -0.0073 | 73 | 11 |
| Franklin | $514,000 | 0.04 | 73 | 20 |
| Oneida | $422,450 | 0.1767 | 58 | 6 |
| Power | $389,000 | 0.0318 | 62 | 9 |
| Source: Realtor.com | ||||
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.
Region
Labor force estimates for August 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics had both total employment and total unemployment increasing slightly in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, August’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 112 people, with 131 more employed people and 19 fewer unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.5%, the same as July 2024 and 0.4% higher than August 2023.
Figure 1.
| Southeastern Idaho, seasonally adjusted data | Aug-24 (P) | Jul-24 (R) | Aug-24 (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian labor force | 91,202 | 91,090 | 87,962 |
| Total employment | 88,046 | 87,915 | 85,244 |
| Unemployment | 3,156 | 3,175 | 2,718 |
| % of labor force unemployed | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.1% |
| Source: Idaho Department of Labor | P – Preliminary, | R – Revised, | B – Benchmark |
In August 2024, there were 530 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, which decreased 26% from the prior month at 718 and 24% over the year at 695. The median job posting duration was 12 days, down one day from July and down two days from August 2023.
Region
Labor force estimates for July 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) had total employment and total unemployment increasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, July’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants increasing by 1,177 people, with 1,161 more employed people and 16 more unemployed people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.5%, the same as June 2024 and .2% lower than July 2023.
Continue reading “Around Southeastern Idaho: Economic activity, August 2024”