Panhandle Job Rate Changes Little

July unemployment in Idaho’s Panhandle dropped compared with the same month last year, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.

The seasonally adjusted rate for the five northern counties remained at 8.4 percent in July, the same as in June, but that was lower than the 8.8 percent for July 1995.

In Kootenai County, unemployment rose slightly to 8.0 percent from 7.8 percent in June. That is an improvement from last year, when July unemployment hit 8.3 percent.

Improved weather, continued harvesting in agricultural fields and more hiring in tourism-related business pushed Idaho’s rate down to 4.9 percent from 5.2 percent in June. That rate matches the lowest the state has seen this year.

Growth in single-family home building continues to fuel strong job numbers in the construction sector throughout Idaho, the department reported.

Other Panhandle counties had mixed unemployment rates in July compared with June: Benewah, down to 10.4 percent from 11.5 percent; Bonner, up to 9.7 percent from 8.9 percent; Boundary, down to 10.5 percent from 11.3 percent; Shoshone, up to 7.4 percent from 7.1 percent.

, DataTimes