Idaho employment increased 1.9 percent over the year to 867,900 in March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Employment rose 2.1 percent in Ada County from March 2025 to March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the rate of employment growth in Ada ranked 10th among the 371 largest U.S. counties with published data.

Employment was 295,300 in Ada and 90,100 in Canyon in March 2026. Together these two large counties accounted for 44.4 percent of total employment in Idaho. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 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 2025.)

The average weekly wage in Ada increased 7.9 percent over the year (ranked 12th nationally) to $1,503 (132nd). The average wage in Canyon increased 3.3 percent (196th) to $1,048 (364th). The national average was $1,654, up 3.9 percent over the year.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 6.2 percent over the year to $1,254. Idaho ranked 44th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 2nd in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 42 smaller counties in Idaho, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 41 of the 42 smaller counties were below the national average. Butte reported the highest average weekly wage ($2,380) in the state. Bear Lake reported the lowest average weekly wage ($781).

Among all 44 Idaho counties, 10 reported average weekly wages less than $925, 6 had wages from $925 to $999, 15 had wages from $1,000 to $1,074, 4 had wages from $1,075 to $1,149, and 9 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)