WASHINGTON: Idaho’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.5 percent in March, compared to the 3.6 percent rate in February. The Idaho Department of Labor attributed the decline to 500 fewer workers unemployed last month, as well as the labor force’s decreasing by 600 workers. It was the first time in two years that Idaho experienced a month-to-month decline in the size of the labor force.
In Blaine County, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up to 2.8 percent in March, compared to a rate of 2.7 percent in February. The labor force was 11,794 people in March and total employment was 11,465. In February, the labor force was 11,898, the unemployment rate was 325 and the total employment was 11,573. The Lewiston metropolitan statistical area had the largest seasonally adjusted job growth in March. It increased 4.7 percent compared to March 2016, or 1,300 jobs. The Boise area had the second-highest percentage growth in jobs, with a 3.5 percent increase compared to the same month in 2016. Boise had 10,700 more jobs in March.
