Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little commented on news from the Idaho Department of Labor that Idaho jobs are expected to outpace the national average through 2034.
“Idaho continues to stand out as a place where people want to live, work, raise a family, and build a business. These projections are another strong sign that our economy is positioned for continued opportunity.
“Idaho’s projected employment growth of 1.3% a year through 2034 is more than four times the national forecast. We have now outpaced the nation in employment growth for 11 consecutive years, and this forecast shows that momentum is expected to continue.
“Our job is to make sure Idaho is ready for that growth. That means investing in education and workforce training, expanding opportunities like LAUNCH and apprenticeships, building the infrastructure our communities need, and keeping Idaho a place where employers can invest and grow without unnecessary government barriers.
“Idaho’s success comes from the hard work of Idahoans and the strength of our businesses and communities. We will keep building on that success so our children and grandchildren have even more opportunities to succeed right here at home,” Governor Little said.
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Idaho Department of Labor employment projections
Idaho’s labor market is expected to continue its significant expansion through the end of the decade, with a projected employment growth rate of 1.3% per year and a total employment count reaching 1,028,760 by 2034. These new long-term employment projections are estimates from the Idaho Department of Labor and cover the period from 2024-2034.
Idaho’s long-term projected growth rate of 1.3% is significantly higher than the national forecast. The most recent projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipate a national growth rate of approximately 0.3% annually — less than one fourth of the projected growth rate for Idaho.
These projections are consistent with Idaho’s record of strong job creation in recent years, including rapid growth from 2010-2020, and an economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that was among the strongest in the nation.
As seen in Figure 1, Idaho has consistently been a leader in job growth among the states, with its growth rate exceeding the national rate 11 years in a row, starting in 2011.
The state’s strong growth projections are partly based on Idaho’s relatively high population growth. With population gains mostly stagnant across the country, individual states like Idaho are finding success by attracting new residents from other, higher-cost states.
From 2010-2020, Idaho ranked second behind Utah in population growth. For the rest of the coming decade, the department projects population growth to remain high for Idaho, driving significant demand in a variety of sectors, especially new home construction, health care and consumer services.
Occupations and industries driving Idaho job growth
Of Idaho’s top 50 jobs, more than half are in either construction or health care, with 14 jobs in each category. The construction and extraction occupational group has the highest projected growth, with more than 13,000 new jobs expected by 2034. The health care support occupational group is projected to increase by 12,500 new jobs.
While occupational projections estimate the staffing requirements of each industry, industry projections forecast the composition of Idaho’s economy by business sector.
The health care and social assistance industry is expected to experience one of the greatest gains in employment, adding about 34,000 jobs, and is projected to grow the fastest through 2034 with an annual growth rate of 2.4%. This growth is driven by the state’s aging population trend.
Idaho’s construction industry is also forecast to see strong employment growth, adding about 14,700 jobs as an increasing population reduces inventory, raises prices and creates high demand for new building construction.
An ongoing shift from brick-and-mortar retail to e-commerce is expected to drive job gains away from retail trade, which is projected to grow 0.7% per year, toward transportation and warehousing, projected to grow 1.6% per year and including fulfillment centers and delivery services. While retail trade is traditionally a larger sector of the economy, employment growth in transportation and warehousing jobs is projected to be much faster by percentage.
Strong gains in Idaho’s manufacturing jobs are also expected to continue, with roughly 8,500 new jobs projected by 2034. Within this sector, nearly half the job growth is expected in two specific industries: food manufacturing, with an estimated increase of 3,900 jobs, and computer and electronic product manufacturing, with an estimated increase of 1,250 jobs.
