Jobless rate grows in North Idaho

Unemployment rates in North Idaho continue to inch upward in most counties. In Kootenai County, 11.4 percent of the workforce was looking for a job in May, compared to 11.1 percent a year ago, according to figures released today by the state Department of Labor. In the city of Coeur d’Alene, unemployment rates were 11.8 percent in May, compared to 10.9 percent a year ago. Jobless rates also went up in Benewah County (15.1 percent) and Bonner County (13.4 percent). Shoshone and Boundary countes showed modest drops in unemployment at 15.2 percent and 14.6 percent, respectively. A year ago, Shoshone County’s unemployment was 15.3 percent. Boundary County’s was 15.9 percent.