Idaho unemployment rate remained steady in March

Idaho’s unemployment rate remained steady at 2.9% in March, but seasonal nonfarm jobs experienced the third-fastest year-over-year growth rate in the nation, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.

Seasonal nonfarm jobs in Idaho grew by 2.7% from March 2018, representing a gain of 19,400 jobs in professional and business services, construction and financial activities.

Idaho nonfarm jobs increased by 1,900 positions, bringing the total to more than 751,100 jobs in March. The largest month-over-month job gains were in construction, information, and professional and business services.

Employment sectors in trade, transportation and utilities, education and health services, and government experienced a decrease of more than 800 combined jobs in March.

More than 22% of Idaho’s 21,466 online job postings in March were classified as “hard to fill” health care positions such as physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists as well as occupational and physical therapists, according to The Conference Board, a Washington D.C. think tank.

Coeur d’Alene added more than 300 positions in March, the largest month-over-month increase among Idaho job markets.

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8% in March.