Employment rose in both of Idaho’s large counties from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Ada County had an over-the-year employment increase of 1.6 percent, and Canyon County reported an increase of 0.9 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Idaho, March 2025

County	Percent change, March 2025
Ada	1.6
Canyon	0.9

Between the two largest counties in Idaho, employment was highest in Ada (287,800) in March 2025. Together, the two largest counties accounted for 44.3 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

Both large Idaho counties reported average weekly wage gains of 3.9 percent over the year. (See chart 2.)

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Idaho, first quarter 2025

County	Percent change, first quarter 2025
Ada	3.9
Canyon	3.9

Weekly wages in both large counties in Idaho were below the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages were $1,386 in Ada and $1,013 in Canyon.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 42 small counties in Idaho, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 41 of the 42 smaller counties were below the national average. Butte reported the highest average weekly wage ($2,275). Boise reported the lowest average weekly wage ($652) in the state.

Among all 44 Idaho counties, 12 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 9 had wages from $900 to $974, 13 had wages from $975 to $1,049, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)