Bob Fick of the Idaho Department of Labor told the Economic Outlook & Revenue Assessment Committee, "Idaho's job loss since the recession began was among the worst nationally and regionally." Idaho ranked sixth nationally for job loss, second only to Nevada in the region. From October of 2007 to October of 2010, Idaho lost 8.1 percent of its jobs. Washington, by comparison, lost 4.6 percent.

With record numbers of Idahoans drawing unemployment, unemployment payments have helped keep the workers in Idaho, Fick said, and "have done a little bit to help ease the economic drag of this recession." Current forecasts show that Idaho's employment won't return to pre-recession levels until 2014, Fick said. "The outlook is for growth, but very limited growth."