Counties with the highest unemployment in Idaho

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Idaho, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Idaho.

#44. Oneida County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,534 people (71 unemployed)

#43. Franklin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,332 people (213 unemployed)

#42. Madison County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,958 people (716 unemployed)

#41. Fremont County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,112 people (245 unemployed)

#40. Jefferson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,138 people (492 unemployed)

#39. Bonneville County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 68,178 people (2,061 unemployed)

#38. Butte County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,221 people (38 unemployed)

#37. Minidoka County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,087 people (379 unemployed)

#36. Blaine County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,682 people (435 unemployed)

#35. Gooding County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,052 people (266 unemployed)

#34. Cassia County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,461 people (412 unemployed)

#33. Ada County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 302,693 people (10,079 unemployed)

#32. Bear Lake County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,891 people (98 unemployed)

#31. Nez Perce County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,573 people (772 unemployed)

#30. Caribou County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,618 people (128 unemployed)

#29. Latah County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,735 people (762 unemployed)

#28. Bingham County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,303 people (858 unemployed)

#27. Power County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,132 people (149 unemployed)

#26. Bannock County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 47,152 people (1,691 unemployed)

#25. Jerome County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,054 people (444 unemployed)

#24. Elmore County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,568 people (469 unemployed)

#23. Twin Falls County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 45,541 people (1,691 unemployed)

#22. Lemhi County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,058 people (153 unemployed)

#21. Valley County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,305 people (247 unemployed)

#20. Teton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,660 people (301 unemployed)

#19. Lewis County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,596 people (65 unemployed)

#18. Boise County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,240 people (172 unemployed)

#17. Canyon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 123,074 people (5,008 unemployed)

#16. Camas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 554 people (23 unemployed)

#15. Lincoln County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,462 people (103 unemployed)

#14. Gem County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,211 people (395 unemployed)

#13. Kootenai County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 90,400 people (3,853 unemployed)

#12. Washington County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,618 people (201 unemployed)

#11. Payette County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,014 people (534 unemployed)

#10. Custer County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,152 people (96 unemployed)

#9. Owyhee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,751 people (259 unemployed)

#8. Clark County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 456 people (21 unemployed)

#7. Idaho County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,125 people (339 unemployed)

#6. Boundary County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,722 people (278 unemployed)

#5. Bonner County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,668 people (1,145 unemployed)

#4. Adams County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,871 people (102 unemployed)

#3. Clearwater County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,411 people (186 unemployed)

#2. Benewah County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,207 people (232 unemployed)

#1. Shoshone County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,615 people (345 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.