State jobless rate higher

Sun., Nov. 7, 2004

Associated Press

BOISE – The Idaho economy generated only 600 new jobs in October after losing three times that many the month before, pushing the unemployment rate to its highest level in a year.

The Commerce and Labor Department on Friday estimated the jobless rate at 5.2 percent, up two-tenths from September and identical to the rate a year ago. The national unemployment rate was up a tenth to 5.5 percent.

The department blamed the increase on fluctuations in agriculture, and government analysts were still optimistic about the state’s employment picture into next year.

Despite the increased unemployment last month, state economists remained optimistic about Idaho’s prospects over the next year.

A new forecast anticipates 2.6 percent job growth for the rest of this year followed by annual growth just under 2 percent through 2007.

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State jobless rate higher

Jesse Tinsley

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