Better Weather Helps To Lower North Idaho Unemployment Rate

Kootenai County unemployment dropped in August, mirroring an improving employment picture around the Idaho Panhandle.

Kootenai County’s rate dropped to 7 percent from 7.5 percent in July and 7.6 percent in August 1994.

A more typical weather pattern in August helped lumber activities throughout the Panhandle, according to Kathryn Tacke, labor analyst for the Idaho Department of Employment.

“Weather was a cause of some of our problems in July,” she said. “August had a more normal weather, and that helped a lot.”

Regional sawmills brought some more workers on shift during the month, which helped in lumber-dependent Bonner County. The rate there dropped to 7.4 percent from 9 percent in July.

The five-county Panhandle rate fell to 7.3 percent from 7.8 percent in July and 7.9 percent a year ago.

All Panhandle rates remain well above the state of Idaho average, which dipped in August to 4.8 percent from 5.3 percent in July. The national average dropped a tenth of a percent in August to 5.6 percent.

Other August unemployment rates compared to July in the Panhandle include: Benewah, unchanged at 7.3 percent; Boundary, down to 9.2 percent from 9.3 percent; Shoshone, down to 7.4 percent from 7.8 percent.

, DataTimes