Idaho’s April unemployment rate remains at 3.6%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2026
Media Contact: Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov or  Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate did not change between March and April, remaining at 3.6%.

April’s labor force decreased by 2,350 (-0.2%) people to 1,003,496 while the labor force participation rate – the percentage of people 16 years or older who are either employed or looking for work – decreased by 0.2 percentage points between March and April, down to 62.2%.

Total employment decreased by 2,290 (-0.2%) to 966,979 and unemployment decreased by 60 (-0.2%) to 36,517.

Idaho’s nonfarm jobs had a net increase of 3,600 (0.4%) for a total of 882,200 in April. Industry sectors with the greatest over-the-month gains included Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (5.8%); Durable Goods Manufacturing (2.8%); Information (2.3%); Natural Resources (2.2%); Finance and Insurance (2.0%); Retail Trade (1.3%); Management of Companies and Enterprises (1.1%); Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (0.9%); Healthcare and Social Services (0.6%) and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (0.5%).

Industries that experienced job decreases in April included Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (-1.1%); Federal Government (-0.7%); Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services (-0.6%); Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (-0.6%) and State Government (-0.6%).

Five of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-month nonfarm job gains in April. Coeur d’Alene saw the largest increase at 0.5%, followed by Lewiston (0.3%), Boise (0.2%), Idaho Falls (0.2%) and Pocatello (0.2%). Twin Falls experienced no change.

Year over Year

Idaho’s 3.6% unemployment rate for April 2026 was the same as in 2025. The labor force declined by 0.3% (-3,059), as the number of employed Idahoans decreased by 3,169 (-0.3%). The number of unemployed Idahoans increased by 110 (0.3%).

Total nonfarm jobs increased by 0.5% (4,700). Most major industry sectors gained jobs except Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-12.1%); Federal Government (-6.3%); Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (-3.1%); State Government (-3.1%); Wholesale Trade (-3.0%); Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services (-1.6%); Information (-1.1%) and Accommodation and Food Services (-1.0%).

Three of Idaho’s MSAs had year-over-year nonfarm job gains in April. Twin Falls had the greatest increase at 1.2%, followed by Coeur d’Alene (0.9%) and Boise (0.1%). Pocatello experienced a decrease of 1.5%, while Idaho Falls and Lewiston saw decreases of 1.1% and 1.0%, respectively.

National Comparisons

Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged between March and April, remaining at 4.3%. The number of unemployed increased by 134,000 (1.9%) to 7.3 million. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 115,000 (0.1%) to 158.7 million.

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Upcoming Idaho release schedule:

June 18, 2026 – Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for May 2026
July 17, 2026 – Statewide labor force and nonfarm jobs data for June 2026

More Idaho labor market information can be found at lmi.idaho.gov