Idaho Unemployment Drops To 4.8 Percent

Idaho’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent in November, matching the May and June rates for lowest of the year.

November unemployment is two-tenths of a percentage point lower than October and half a point below the 5.3 percent in November 1996.

Idaho’s unemployment figure for the month was higher than the national rate of 4.6 percent - a 24-year low for U.S. unemployment.

In the five northern counties of Idaho, unemployment fell to 7.5 percent, a drop of two-tenths of a percent compared with October. Panhandle unemployment was down substantially compared with the November 1996 rate of 8.9 percent.

Kootenai County was the only county in North Idaho that had an increase in unemployment during November, climbing slightly to 7.8 percent, one-tenth of a point above the month before. , DataTimes