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News Release Information

24-1982-SAN
Thursday, October 03, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (415) 625-2270

County Employment and Wages in Idaho — First Quarter 2024

Employment rose in both of Idaho’s large counties from March 2023 to March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Canyon County had an over-the-year employment increase of 3.4 percent, while Ada County reported an increase of 1.7 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 1.3 percent over the year, with 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Monterey, CA, and St. Johns, FL, had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 4.8 percent each. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-4.9 percent).

Employment in Ada County was 282,900 in March 2024; Canyon County reported 86,200 employed. Within Ada County’s private industry, healthcare and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the two largest Idaho counties accounted for 44.2 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total covered U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 42 counties in Idaho with employment below 75,000. Average weekly wages were below the national average of $1,527 in 41 of the 42 smaller counties in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

From the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, the average weekly wage in Ada County increased 4.4 percent, above the national rate of 4.2 percent. The average weekly wage increase in Canyon County (3.3 percent) was below the national rate. (See chart 2.)

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.2 percent over the year. Among the 369 largest counties in the United States, 357 had over-the-year wage increases. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+14.6 percent). Saginaw, MI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-3.4 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Ada County’s $1,333 average wage (168th) and Canyon County’s $974 average wage (359th) ranked in the top half and bottom half of the 369 largest U.S. counties, respectively. Nationally, the average weekly wage was $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($4,385). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 284 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($807).

Average weekly wages in Idaho’s smaller counties

Among the 42 smaller counties in Idaho—those with employment below 75,000— only Butte County ($2,185) reported an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,527. Boise County ($622) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 44 counties in Idaho were considered, 12 reported average weekly wages of less than $849, 11 registered wages from $850 to $949, 13 had wages from $950 to $1,049, and 8 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Idaho, first quarter 2024

(U.S. average = $1,527)

 
Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

County Changes for the 2024 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2023 are included in this release and will be included in future 2024 releases. Seven counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Martin, FL; Sarpy, NE; Doña Ana, NM; Kent, RI; Ector, TX; Gregg, TX; and Racine, WI. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.

New Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) definitions, and those for other types of Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), were announced in July 2023. With the full data update for first quarter 2024 on September 4, 2024, QCEW data reflect the new definitions. Data based on the new area definitions are available in the BLS online database. Historical data will not be re-tabulated to reflect the new definitions. The announcement regarding new metropolitan statistical area delineations for 2024 provides more information regarding the new area definitions.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the two largest counties in Idaho, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,169.0153,585.61.3--1,527--4.2--

Idaho

98.5835.81.9--1,130474.122

Ada

25.9282.91.71091,3331684.4117

Canyon

8.686.23.4109743593.3222

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Idaho, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment March 2024Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,169,000153,585,5761,527

Idaho

98,482835,7731,130

Ada

25,870282,9471,333

Adams

2039531,007

Bannock

3,15936,114923

Bear Lake

2701,812742

Benewah

4183,2831,121

Bingham

1,47415,436909

Blaine

2,21014,2621,106

Boise

2601,941622

Bonner

2,42915,504951

Bonneville

5,48961,208937

Boundary

5913,791899

Butte

1449,9512,185

Camas

743691,091

Canyon

8,64486,247974

Caribou

3163,5451,267

Cassia

1,10912,003921

Clark

472851,243

Clearwater

3502,558977

Custer

2921,320843

Elmore

7537,332889

Franklin

5473,981814

Fremont

5543,347829

Gem

6994,359832

Gooding

5996,558967

Idaho

7004,473843

Jefferson

1,1307,621829

Jerome

90811,843967

Kootenai

8,36568,3491,076

Latah

1,42114,443957

Lemhi

4442,588920

Lewis

2271,500797

Lincoln

2011,652933

Madison

1,64316,789788

Minidoka

7739,204969

Nez Perce

1,49821,9441,028

Oneida

1711,697721

Owyhee

3953,046857

Payette

8306,897933

Power

2763,9171,029

Shoshone

4944,863988

Teton

8394,229972

Twin Falls

3,86240,756927

Valley

9115,308980

Washington

3592,808815

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2024
StateEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,169.0153,585.61.31,527--4.2--

Alabama

160.72,091.91.61,201373.344

Alaska

25.2318.12.21,374225.62

Arizona

229.43,257.02.91,372233.146

Arkansas

104.61,292.81.41,171444.024

California

1,835.818,053.01.51,83355.53

Colorado

264.42,851.40.31,61383.538

Connecticut

149.51,661.91.01,90844.418

Delaware

43.0469.31.81,484153.733

District of Columbia

52.3759.80.72,43414.024

Florida

898.99,863.22.11,384204.220

Georgia

401.44,843.91.31,441174.712

Hawaii

58.6638.80.61,278294.810

Idaho

98.5835.81.91,130474.122

Illinois

410.25,966.90.31,60892.750

Indiana

195.23,148.30.61,271305.71

Iowa

110.81,543.10.91,214363.245

Kansas

100.71,415.70.71,199383.832

Kentucky

155.81,987.21.41,178423.443

Louisiana

154.51,904.20.71,195394.024

Maine

65.0626.41.31,249345.24

Maryland

198.42,690.00.81,591104.516

Massachusetts

287.43,599.00.52,01534.98

Michigan

338.64,351.01.01,352243.538

Minnesota

210.52,850.40.21,519144.024

Mississippi

89.51,157.20.2980513.636

Missouri

257.52,882.51.01,269313.733

Montana

61.8503.11.21,126494.418

Nebraska

76.01,007.31.51,195392.651

Nevada

112.11,534.42.41,304284.712

New Hampshire

65.9680.01.11,531134.712

New Jersey

335.64,218.81.31,76173.538

New Mexico

67.9861.51.61,159454.810

New York

709.59,537.41.82,08923.538

North Carolina

395.74,871.01.81,401184.024

North Dakota

36.1419.91.61,261333.733

Ohio

337.05,452.80.81,315254.024

Oklahoma

132.91,690.01.71,152464.024

Oregon

198.91,971.9-0.31,377213.146

Pennsylvania

392.05,967.01.11,449163.048

Rhode Island

48.5483.91.11,387194.024

South Carolina

184.62,265.92.11,194414.98

South Dakota

39.9449.72.01,129484.220

Tennessee

230.13,261.31.91,311273.538

Texas

839.613,826.91.71,540124.122

Utah

135.71,699.61.91,313265.24

Vermont

32.8307.30.61,232353.636

Virginia

318.34,072.61.61,554115.24

Washington

224.33,577.31.31,81565.17

West Virginia

60.8694.01.61,110504.615

Wisconsin

206.02,899.10.61,263324.516

Wyoming

30.8274.11.11,177432.849

Puerto Rico

54.7952.81.6677(3)4.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.936.50.9996(3)1.6(3)

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, October 03, 2024