April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Idaho Employment Snapshot

• In April, Idaho added 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 20,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Idaho ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Idaho’s private sector added 3,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Idaho rose by 815, and over the past 12 months it rose by 13,156.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.6 percent in April from 63.7 percent and ranks 23rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Idaho Payroll Employment

• Idaho added 3,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,100 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Idaho ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho added 3,400 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,300 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 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 April were Education and Health Services (2,200) and Professional and Business Services (1,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400) and Construction (-500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (6,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (3,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging tied with Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Government (0) and Information (-200).

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 fell to 63.6 percent in April from 63.7 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 occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.8 percent in April 2020.

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