How many jobs were added in Idaho last month?
Refreshed monthly
Idaho gained 3,100 jobs in May 2026, ranking it 20th 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 1,600 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+3.1K
month to month change in number of jobs (May 2026)
20th
rank among states in monthly job growth (May 2026)
May 2026's gain of 3,100 jobs was the 3rd consecutive month of positive job growth in Idaho. Monthly job growth was down from the 5,200 new jobs in April 2026.
During the latest five year period (June 2021 to May 2026), Idaho gained jobs in 46 out of 60 months. May 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 3,100 more jobs in May 2026 in Idaho than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, June 2021–May 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Idaho sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in May 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in May 2026 were construction, health care and social assistance, and local government. Construction added 2,000 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 500 jobs, while local government added 400 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 500 jobs during May 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Idaho (May 2026)
How does Idaho's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?
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 the 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 5,400 on average every month in 2022.
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 May 2026 ranged from a loss of 300 jobs in the Idaho Falls, ID area to a gain of 1,400 jobs in the Boise City, ID area metro 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. | +1,400 | |
| 2. | +300 | |
| 3. | +300 | |
| 4. | +0 | |
| 5. | +0 | |
| 6. | -300 |
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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.
