Panhandle Jobless Rate Up

Tue., May 11, 1999

From Staff

A long spring breakup in Idaho’s Panhandle is contributing to higher unemployment in the state’s five northern counties.

The Panhandle had a 9 percent unemployment rate in April, up from 8.2 percent a year ago.

Soft ground and muddy roads kept loggers out of the woods, which in turn affects retail and service industries in rural communities, said Kathryn Tacke, state labor analyst.

Kootenai County’s 8.6 percent unemployment was 0.6 percent higher than last year at this time.

Bonner County, still feeling the effect of the Colburn mill closure and closure of Coldwater Creek’s Sandpoint call center, posted a 9.2 percent unemployment rate - up from 7.8 percent last year.

Boundary County’s unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percent to 7.9 percent. Benewah County had 12.1 percent unemployment, up from 10.6 percent last year. Shoshone County’s rate was 10.7 percent, up 0.1 percent.

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Panhandle Jobless Rate Up

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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