How many jobs were added in Idaho last month?
Refreshed monthly
Idaho gained 2,800 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 18th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 1,500 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+2.8K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
18th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
August 2026’s gain of 2,800 jobs was the second consecutive month of positive job growth in Idaho. Monthly job growth was up from the 2,300 new jobs in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Idaho gained jobs in 45 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the 20th-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2023 (+7,100) while job growth was weakest in January 2024 (-10,300).
There were 2,800 more jobs in August 2026 in Idaho than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Idaho sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and durable goods. Accommodation and food services added 1,900 jobs. Health care and social assistance gained 600 jobs, while durable goods added 600. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing sectors were private educational services, retail trade, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Private educational services added 500 jobs in August 2026, while retail trade added 400 jobs and professional, scientific, and technical services added 300 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 600 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Idaho (August 2026)
How has Idaho's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Idaho gained an average of 958 jobs every month. That's higher than the 2024 average monthly increase of 467, and the highest since 2023. The 2025 average ranks as 13th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 2,300 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 2,400 on average every month in 2023.
In 2025, Idaho gained an average of 958 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among six metro areas primarily in Idaho during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 200 jobs in the Coeur d'Alene, ID area to a gain of 1,200 jobs in the Boise City, ID area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Idaho
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +1,200 | |
| 2. | +700 | |
| 3. | +200 | |
| 4. | +0 | |
| 5. | +0 | |
| 6. | -200 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
