BOISE (Capital Sun of Idaho) The Idaho Department of Labor said in a news release on Friday that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 3.7% to 3.6% in May.
According to the Idaho Department of Labor, nonfarm employment in Idaho grew by 2,500 jobs in May, reaching 883,400 jobs overall.
According to the Idaho Department of Labor, the state’s labor participation rate—which measures the proportion of adults aged 16 and over who are either working or actively seeking employment—dropped by 0.1% between April and May, to 63.5%.
In the meantime, Idaho’s unemployment rate for May was still lower than the 4.2% national average.
According to the Idaho Department of Labor, other services, construction, the arts, entertainment and recreation, finance, information, and insurance were the sectors in Idaho that experienced the greatest job increase in May.
The state government, which saw a 6.7% decrease in employment in May, and the federal government, which saw a 1.4% decrease, were among the industries or sectors in Idaho that experienced job losses.
According to state officials, the total number of unemployed Idahoans fell by 477 in May, to 36,825.
Unemployment rate, by the numbers
May 2025
3.6% in Idaho
United States: 4.2%
April of 2025
Idaho: 37%
United States: 4.2%
May 2024
3.6% in Idaho
US: 4%
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Idaho Department of Labor
