Local jobless rate drops slightly
POST FALLS — With Kootenai County's jobless rate at 4.6 percent in November, analysts expect positive factors to carry over into 2016.
"Construction in Kootenai County is expected to pick up next year as growth in accommodations and food services, health care and aerospace is expected to continue," said Craig Shaul, research analyst supervisor for the Idaho Department of Labor, which released its monthly jobless report on Monday. "The momentum the state is currently experiencing is anticipated to carry into 2016."
Last year at this time, Kootenai County's rate was 5.4 percent.
The November 2015 number was a decrease of one-tenth of a percent from October.
"The labor force dropped faster than unemployment, contributing more to the shift to 4.6 (percent) in November from the 4.7 in October," Shaul said, referring to the reason behind the slight drop.
Idaho's unemployment rate also dropped a tenth of a percent to 3.9 in November, while the nation's rate was unchanged at 5 percent. The state’s unemployment rate has been below the national average for more than six years.
Over the month, Idaho had the second-fastest growth rate in the nation with a .7 percent seasonally adjusted increase between October and November due to strong payrolls in manufacturing, administrative and support services and leisure and hospitality.
Over the year, Idaho’s non-farm job growth ranked first in the nation
see JOBLESS, C12
JOBLESS
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for the second month in a row with an increase of 4.2 percent, the largest year-over-year gain since 2005. Seasonally adjusted, the 4.2 percent growth rate translates into a record-breaking increase of 27,600 jobs between November 2014 and November 2015 with the greatest gains in construction, non-durable manufacturing and real estate. Mining and logging, information, and arts and entertainment were the only sectors showing declines.
The state’s workforce grew by 1,100 workers in November to 803,534, edging the labor force participation rate — the percentage of people 16 years and older with jobs or looking for work — up slightly to 64.2 percent.
With November’s total employment at 771,826 and only 31,708 unemployed people looking for work, data from The Conference Board indicates a continued tight labor market with slightly more than one unemployed individual per job listing.
The number of Idahoans collecting unemployment insurance benefits dropped by 28 percent from a weekly average of 7,500 in November 2014 to 5,400 for November of this year. Total payout for unemployment insurance benefit payments was down 25 percent — from $2.1 million in November 2014 to $1.5 million for November 2015.
Approximately 61 percent of people who received unemployment insurance benefits were men and 39 percent were women. Most of the claimants were between the ages of 25 and 54. Prior to becoming unemployed, nearly 41 percent were working in construction, manufacturing, administrative support and waste management or retail trade.
Shoshone County has the third-highest jobless rate in the state at 7.9 percent, while Benewah is at 6.7 percent and Bonner 5.8.