The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday revised Idaho’s December unemployment rate downward a tenth to a seasonally adjusted 9.1 percent.
The revision held the rate steady from November at its highest level since May 1983. Using additional economic information gathered over the previous 10 days, the department determined that total employment was nearly 200 higher than originally forecast while the number of unemployed actually dropped from November to remain under 69,000. Read more ... 01/20/2010
As the recession wore on, Idaho’s population growth slowed considerably between July 1, 2008 and July 1, 2009, but the state still ranks as the 12th fastest growing state in the nation.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday estimated the state’s population grew by 1.2 percent between mid-2008 and mid-2009, the slowest growth rate for Idaho since 2002 following the last national recession. Wyoming ranked first in growth rate at 2.1 percent while Texas gained 478,000 people, more than any other state. Read More... 12/24/2009
Idaho Targeted Employment Areas
The Under section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1153(b)(5), 10,000 immigrant visas per year are available to qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis of their engagement in a new commercial enterprise. Permanent EB-5 resident status is available to investors, either alone or coming with their spouse and unmarried children. Eligible aliens are those who have invested – or are actively in the process of investing – the required amount of capital into a new commercial enterprise that they have established. They must further demonstrate that this investment will benefit the United States economy and create the requisite number of full-time jobs for qualified persons within the United States. The Idaho targeted employment areas outlined in this document are areas that fulfill certain economic requirements that distinguish between an investment of $500,000 or $1,000,000. View Map or Read more... 11/25/2009
Idaho’s Median Wage Rose 3.8 Percent in 2008
The median wage for all occupations in Idaho rose just 3.8 percent from spring 2007 to spring 2008, exceeding the national increase of 3.1 percent during the first six months of the national recession. Read more... 08/14/09 Occupational Employment & Wage Survey 2009