Unemployment Declines To 7.1% In Panhandle

Kootenai County unemployment edged up in September while rates in some other Panhandle countries dropped significantly.

Kootenai County’s rate rose to 7.4 percent from 7.1 percent in August. But the average rate among the five Panhandle counties dropped to 7.1 percent from 7.3 percent in August.

Bonner and Benewah counties showed the most dramatic drop in unemployment, both rates falling 1.1 percentage points in September. Sawmills there brought many workers back on after August layoffs, said Kathryn Tacke, labor analyst for the Idaho Department of Employment.

Better weather in the region may have also contributed to more outdoor construction work and logging activity, which lowered rates around the region.

The end of tourism season in September traditionally brings even the seasonally adjusted unemployment averages up, according to the Department of Employment.

Idaho’s unemployment rate rose to 5 percent from 4.8 percent in August, still below the U.S. rate, which remained steady at 5.6 percent.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Panhandle unemployment