BLS Benchmark Adjustments Revise Idaho 2025 Labor Force, Unemployment Data

Idaho DOL News

Published April 6th, 2026

Detected April 8th, 2026

Summary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics completed its annual benchmarking process for 2025 labor force statistics, incorporating previously unavailable data such as updated Census population estimates and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data. Idaho's revised unemployment rates came in lower than initially reported for most of 2025, with the December 2025 rate remaining at 3.6% and January 2026 rising slightly to 3.7%. County and city-level benchmarked data will be released on May 22, 2026.

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What changed

The BLS annual benchmarking process resulted in downward revisions to Idaho's 2025 unemployment rates compared to initially published estimates, reflecting incorporation of comprehensive employment and wage data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages and updated Census Bureau population estimates. The December 2025 benchmarked unemployment rate held steady at 3.6%, with January 2026 preliminary data showing a slight increase to 3.7%.

For affected parties, this revision provides more accurate historical labor market data for Idaho. Employers, economic development organizations, and government agencies can reference these revised figures for workforce planning, grant applications, and economic analysis. The county and city-level data releasing May 22, 2026 will enable more precise local labor market assessments.

What to do next

Monitor lmi.idaho.gov for updated county and city labor force statistics available May 22, 2026

Source document (simplified)

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 6, 2026
Media Contact: Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Will.Hoenike@labor.idaho.gov

Every February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) performs a nationwide benchmarking process to incorporate data that was unavailable during regular monthly publications, such as new population estimates from the United States Census Bureau and employment data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

The benchmarking process includes revisions to state labor force estimates: population, employed, unemployed, unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs.

After benchmarking, the BLS adjustments made for Idaho resulted in lower unemployment rates than were initially reported for most of 2025. However, the post-benchmarked unemployment rate for December 2025 remained at 3.6%. The unemployment rate for January 2026 was released on April 6.

Benchmarked data for counties, cities, and smaller statistical areas will be available May 22, 2026.

Additional benchmark data is available at lmi.idaho.gov/data-tools/labor-force-statistics/

Other Idaho labor market information can be found at lmi.idaho.gov

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