Counties with the highest unemployment in Idaho
The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7.
Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the federal workforce.
Federal government employment fell by 10,000 in February, pushing up total cuts to the federal workforce. In the first two months of 2025, 62,530 federal workers were let go. However, the most recent cuts, including the Department of Education's workforce getting slashed by nearly half, have not yet appeared in official jobs data. Retail employment also fell by 6,000.
The broader unemployment index, known as the U-6, which also includes laborers working part-time because they can't find full-time work, and those who want to work but have given up searching, rose to 8%, its highest since October 2021.
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 January 2025, 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: Jobs report shows softening labor market
February's job growth of 151,000 fell below economists' expected gains of 160,000, showing the labor market is cooling faster than predicted. Experts say many companies weighing policy changes and economic uncertainty are deciding it's safer to hold off on hiring decisions for now.
"If you were a company and you were saying, 'I'm looking to expand, or I'm looking to hire,' you would have investors in those companies saying, 'Are you crazy?'" Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, told Marketplace.
Consumer spending fell in January for the first time in two years, which may have led to layoffs or hiring slowdowns, Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist, told NBC News.
The big story: From bold promises to frozen labor market
After an initial market pop following Trump's electoral win, indexes have slumped to below when he took office, and uncertainty about the future of the markets is a common theme. Are threatened tariffs in place, delayed, reversed, or ramped up? Has that federal worker been fired or given their job back? Are those federal dollars slashed or reinstated? It's a question mark that changes daily.
Research shows that uncertainty invites lower investment, slows employment, and increases financial market volatility. The word "uncertain" showed up 47 times in the March edition of the Beige Book, the Federal Reserve's snapshot of reports from across the nation, compared to 17 times in the previous report from January.
The new administration's blitz of executive orders and trade policy waffling have cast a dense fog over the short-term economic outlook. One thing that is known? Uncertainty isn't good for business planning, job creation, or hiring.
In a March 12 interview with Semafor, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon noted that average consumers likely don't change "what they're going to do because they read about tariffs," but "companies might."
"Uncertainty is not a good thing," Dimon added.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Idaho.
44. Teton County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,912 people (223 unemployed)
43. Oneida County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,607 people (80 unemployed)
40. Ada County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 301,730 people (10,691 unemployed)
40. Bear Lake County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,432 people (119 unemployed)
40. Jefferson County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,548 people (620 unemployed)
39. Blaine County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,004 people (553 unemployed)
36. Bonneville County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 67,398 people (2,533 unemployed)
36. Cassia County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,035 people (453 unemployed)
36. Minidoka County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,577 people (442 unemployed)
33. Franklin County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,319 people (285 unemployed)
33. Madison County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,333 people (1,000 unemployed)
33. Latah County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,094 people (793 unemployed)
32. Twin Falls County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 47,608 people (1,931 unemployed)
30. Gem County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,550 people (442 unemployed)
30. Nez Perce County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,592 people (899 unemployed)
26. Canyon County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 136,975 people (5,957 unemployed)
26. Bingham County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,450 people (1,018 unemployed)
26. Jerome County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,662 people (543 unemployed)
26. Gooding County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,213 people (356 unemployed)
24. Bannock County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 41,968 people (1,931 unemployed)
24. Butte County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,198 people (55 unemployed)
23. Camas County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: -0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 578 people (28 unemployed)
18. Boise County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,229 people (206 unemployed)
18. Power County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,960 people (241 unemployed)
18. Caribou County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,379 people (165 unemployed)
18. Owyhee County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,153 people (302 unemployed)
18. Clark County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 325 people (16 unemployed)
17. Payette County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,718 people (633 unemployed)
15. Lewis County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,438 people (73 unemployed)
15. Elmore County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,006 people (608 unemployed)
14. Fremont County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +2.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,250 people (333 unemployed)
13. Washington County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,711 people (256 unemployed)
12. Kootenai County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 91,920 people (5,093 unemployed)
11. Lemhi County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,647 people (206 unemployed)
9. Valley County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,102 people (365 unemployed)
9. Lincoln County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,758 people (166 unemployed)
7. Idaho County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,374 people (468 unemployed)
7. Benewah County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,067 people (256 unemployed)
6. Bonner County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,688 people (1,545 unemployed)
5. Custer County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
--- 1-month change: +2.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,631 people (116 unemployed)
3. Shoshone County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,283 people (452 unemployed)
3. Clearwater County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,391 people (243 unemployed)
2. Boundary County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,954 people (436 unemployed)
1. Adams County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,867 people (165 unemployed)
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
