Counties with the highest unemployment in Idaho
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Idaho using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 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.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Idaho.
#25. Ada County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 301,762 people (9,592 unemployed)
#24. Lemhi County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,120 people (142 unemployed)
#23. Twin Falls County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 45,844 people (1,571 unemployed)
#22. Bannock County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 46,949 people (1,575 unemployed)
#21. Lewis County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,612 people (56 unemployed)
#20. Valley County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,418 people (227 unemployed)
#19. Elmore County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,658 people (448 unemployed)
#18. Custer County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,216 people (79 unemployed)
#17. Camas County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 562 people (21 unemployed)
#16. Canyon County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 122,834 people (4,702 unemployed)
#15. Lincoln County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,514 people (98 unemployed)
#14. Clark County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 476 people (19 unemployed)
#13. Washington County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,608 people (185 unemployed)
#12. Owyhee County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,810 people (231 unemployed)
#11. Kootenai County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 90,612 people (3,654 unemployed)
#10. Gem County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,202 people (373 unemployed)
#9. Payette County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,118 people (496 unemployed)
#8. Boise County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,258 people (185 unemployed)
#7. Idaho County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,185 people (308 unemployed)
#6. Benewah County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,220 people (185 unemployed)
#5. Boundary County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,725 people (265 unemployed)
#4. Bonner County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,251 people (1,040 unemployed)
#3. Shoshone County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,578 people (281 unemployed)
#2. Adams County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,932 people (100 unemployed)
#1. Clearwater County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,487 people (194 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
