BOISE, Idaho — Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent in December, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.
December’s unemployment rate is down one-half of a percentage point from November’s revised 4.9 percent and currently stands 7.4 percentage points below April’s historic high of 11.8 percent.
Still, thousands of Idahoans are out of work.
According to the Idaho Department of Labor, the number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for regular state unemployment insurance benefits increased 14 percent for the week ending Jan. 2 to 13,338, up 1,632 over the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased from 11,028 for the week ending Dec. 26 to 11,725.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 4,612 for the week ending Jan. 2, up by 386 claims, while the four-week moving average decreased by 3 percent to 4,219.
The Department of Labor says an increase in initial claims and continued claims for regular state benefits is normal for November, December, and January due to the ongoing seasonality of Idaho’s economy. Claims related to COVID-19 may disrupt or exacerbate this normal seasonal pattern.
Local job fairs like the Idaho Job and Career Fair are working to help bring those numbers down.
Companies at the fair are hiring for hundreds of available jobs in manufacturing, customer service, finance, law enforcement, caregiving, clerical, maintenance, security, janitorial, administration, sales, retail, warehouse, production, loan officer, and lots more.
The job fair is free and has full and part-time positions available within an assortment of work schedules. Masks and temperature checks are required and social distancing measures will be in effect.
The job fair is scheduled for January 28th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Galaxy Event Center in Wahooz, Meridian. You can register here.
Other job fairs, like one hosted by Spherion, have opted to go virtual. If you'd like to register, click here.
Looking for a job? Here's a resource for you!
Posted by Natasha Williams on Friday, January 22, 2021
