Idaho's unemployment rates hits record low; Clearwater County at 7.1 percent

Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate set a record low in December at 3.4 percent, according statistics from Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor.

The total number of people working reached a record high for a sixth straight month at 712,700. The number of persons unemployed dropped to 24,700, the lowest since July 1979. The job gains came even as the civilian labor force decreased 600 to 737,400.

Clearwater County had a forecast unemployment rate of 7.1 percent for December 2005 with 3,039 people employed and 232 listed as unemployed. That compares to preliminary figures of 9.5 in November 2005 when 2,973 people were employed and 313 unemployed. In December 2004, the unemployment rate was 8.4 percent with 2,962 people employed and 270 unemployed, according to the statistics.

Only four rural counties reported unemployment rates of 7 percent or more in December. Adams County had the highest rate at 7.8 percent. A year ago, nine rural counties posted jobless rates of 7 percent or more and only one-Adams-was in double digits at 10.2 percent.

The lowest county unemployment rate in December was 1.8 percent in Teton County. Fourteen additional counties reported rates of 3 percent or less. One year ago there were only five counties at or below 3 percent and only one-Owyhee-was below 2 percent at 1.6 percent.

Five counties had an annual average unemployment rate above 7 percent. Clearwater County had the highest at 9.4 percent. Adams followed at 8.2 percent. then Benewah at 7.9 percent, Shoshone at 7.8 percent and Boundary at 7.4 percent.

The annual percentage of unemployment in Clearwater County has come steadily down over the last three years with 11.5 in 2003, 10.1 in 2004 to 9.4 in 2005. The civilian labor force in the county has grown by 85 people during that same three year period, according to the report.

Owyhee County is forecast to have the lowest annual average unemployment rate in 2005 at 2.4 percent. Five other counties reported annual average rates below 3 percent. They were Madison at 2.5 percent, Oneida at 2.6 percent, Teton at 2.7 percent, Blaine at 2.8 percent and Bonneville at 2.9 percent.

The significant decline in December jobless rate capped what has been a steady monthly improvement in Idaho's employment picture, driving the average annual unemployment rate for 2005 to 3.9 percent. That is the first time ever the state's average yearly rate has dropped below 4 percent.

"December was the best month and 2005 the best year I've ever seen for Idaho, and I believe 2006 will be even better," Idaho Commerce and Labor Director Roger B. Madsen said.

December's rate is down from the revised 3.7 percent rate in November and a full point below December 2004's rate of 4.4 percent. The state unemployment rate is also below the national rate of 4.9 percent, which decreased from 5 percent in November. Idaho's rate has been lower than the national rate every month since 2001.

"Month to month, this has been relatively small growth, but it's been steady, consistent and strong," said Les Smart, principal research analyst for Idaho Commerce & Labor.

For 2005, the average number of persons working was a record high of 703,000 in a record high civilian labor force of 731,400. That was 33,000 more people with jobs than in 2004. The average number unemployed, 28,400, ranked fifth lowest since the current calculation method began in 1978. Last year was also the first in which no county posted an average annual unemployment rate in double digits.

The statewide annual average unemployment rate decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2004, it was 4.7, down from 5.3 percent in 2003. The nation's preliminary 2005 average unemployment rate is 5.1 percent compared to 5.5 percent in 2004.

Annual nonfarm job growth is forecast across all industries. Construction, administrative and support services, food services, retail trade, and education - both public and private - continue to lead growth in the number of jobs. Idaho consistently ranked as one of the top five states for job growth in 2005.

First reports indicate that the additional jobs were added during the holiday season, but most of these were temporary in nature. It is forecast that job losses will occur in local government administration and food manufacturing but at less than 1,000.

Unemployment insurance payments were also down 14 percent during December from December 2004 and 41 percent below 2003 when the economy was still trying to shrug off the national recession, the news release said.