Unemployment

Prices in the Mountain West are soaring. The Labor Department reported this week a year-to-year inflation rate of 8.5%, the highest rise in consumer prices since 1981. Broken down by region, the Mountain West stands out with a 10.4% spike.

The December unemployment rate in Idaho fell to a record low of 2.4%.

A new study finds states like Idaho that ended pandemic unemployment benefits early didn't make as many economic gains as some hoped.

Unemployment rates vary significantly across the Mountain West as states lift COVID-19 restrictions and people get vaccinated.

Starting Saturday, unemployed people in Idaho will no longer receive hundreds of additional federal dollars every week.

Continuing unemployment claims in Idaho fell for a 13th straight time last week, but more than half of those beneficiaries will lose federal pandemic unemployment funds when Idaho cuts off the programs June 19.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women accounted for 55% of the 20.5 million jobs lost in April. Idaho Matters learns more about this "she-cession" with Ariane Hegewisch, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Women’s Policy.

Governor Brad Little’s plan to end special federal unemployment benefits to Idahoans next month could boot more than half of current filers off benefits.

The Republican governors of Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming cite labor shortages and point to their state's low unemployment rates in announcing an end to pandemic unemployment compensation. How else might states coax people back to work? Raise the minimum wage.

Initial unemployment claims in Idaho have taken a roller coaster ride in recent weeks, but the longer term trends remain steady.