October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Idaho Employment Snapshot

• In October, Idaho added 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Idaho added 4,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 26,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Idaho ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, Idaho’s private sector added 3,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho added 3,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Idaho rose by 3,037, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,556.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.3 percent in October from 63.2 percent and ranks 23rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Idaho Payroll Employment

• Idaho added 3,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Idaho added 4,300 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Idaho ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho added 3,000 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Idaho added 3,800 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Idaho ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during October were Education and Health Services (2,400) and Government (800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-300) and Professional and Business Services (-1,200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (10,500) and Government (6,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Other Services (-200) and Information tied with Leisure and Hospitality (-500).

Idaho Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Idaho rose to 63.3 percent in October from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• Idaho ranks 23rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Idaho was 64.5 percent in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.6 percent occurring in March 2024.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in October.