{"schema_version": 1, "id": "boise-city-nampa-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 118, "label": "Boise City-Nampa, ID MSA", "slug": "boise-city-nampa-id-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:37:52.052333+00:00", "headline": "Boise's labor market decouples from a cooling Idaho and nation.", "headline_summary": "Boise-Nampa's 3.2% unemployment rate sits well below Idaho's 3.6% and the national 4.1%, with Micron's projected 17,000-job regional expansion anchoring momentum even as southeastern Idaho unemployment climbs to 3.8%.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Boise-Nampa unemployment rate", "value": "3.2%", "context": "vs 3.6% Idaho, 4.1% U.S. (July/Aug 2026)"}, {"label": "Micron regional job projection", "value": "~17,000 jobs", "context": "Includes 3,500 direct technical roles"}, {"label": "Idaho wage growth rank", "value": "3rd nationally", "context": "4.7% avg hourly wage growth vs 3.4% CPI"}, {"label": "Idaho WARN notices (2026 YTD)", "value": "8 notices / 708 workers", "context": "Largest: 342 jobs, LA Semiconductor, Pocatello"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Boise is outrunning both state and national labor trends.", "body": "A 3.2% metro unemployment rate against Idaho's 3.6% and the nation's 4.1% signals genuine local momentum, not just a statewide or national trend passing through. That gap is a defensible, quotable data point for anyone describing Boise's relative economic position this year."}, {"headline": "One project is doing a lot of the region's heavy lifting.", "body": "Micron's semiconductor expansion, projected at roughly 17,000 regional jobs including 3,500 direct technical roles, is a scale of single-employer investment rare for a metro this size. Concentration risk cuts both ways \u2014 it is the current growth engine, but it also means local economic indicators will increasingly track that project's construction and hiring timeline."}, {"headline": "Wage-vs-inflation math still favors Idaho workers, for now.", "body": "Idaho ranks third nationally for wage growth at 4.7% average hourly wage increases, comfortably ahead of the 3.4% national CPI reading cited this quarter. That gap supports consumer purchasing power locally even as national real wages have turned flat to negative."}, {"headline": "Statewide softening has not reached the Treasure Valley yet.", "body": "South-central and southeastern Idaho are seeing rising unemployment and falling advertised wages as labor force growth outpaces job creation, a pattern not yet visible in southwestern Idaho's numbers. Commerce leaders should watch whether that geographic divergence narrows or whether Boise continues to decouple from the rest of the state."}], "local_conditions": "Boise-Nampa's unemployment rate held at a tight 3.2% in July, outperforming both Idaho's 3.6% state rate and the national 4.1%, while nonfarm payrolls grew 0.9% year-over-year through August on the strength of Micron Technology's semiconductor expansion, which is projected to generate roughly 17,000 regional jobs over time. Southwestern Idaho's broader labor force expanded by 614 workers between June and July even as total employment grew faster, a sign that job creation is currently outpacing labor supply growth in the metro even as the rest of the state shows early signs of labor force growth outstripping hiring.", "implications": "Boise's combination of sub-4% unemployment and a marquee capital investment project signals a metro economy still expanding at a pace most peer markets would envy, which matters directly for site-selection conversations, retail and services expansion planning, and public infrastructure forecasting tied to population and payroll growth. Divergence from statewide softening elsewhere in Idaho \u2014 where southeastern and south-central regions show rising unemployment and falling advertised wages \u2014 suggests Boise's momentum is driven by metro-specific capital investment rather than a broad regional upswing, a distinction that matters for anyone benchmarking local conditions against state-level headlines. Commerce leaders should consider monitoring Micron's direct and indirect job creation timeline closely, since the scale of that single project means its pacing will shape regional labor supply, housing demand, and local spending for several years.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "August and September Boise-Nampa unemployment figures have not yet been published at MSA level; watch for confirmation of whether the metro holds its sub-3.5% advantage once fuller data arrives."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Micron's construction and direct-hire pacing over the next two quarters will be the clearest leading indicator of whether the 17,000-job regional projection is tracking on schedule, with implications for housing, retail demand, and local tax base planning."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Southwestern Idaho job postings rose to 33,528 even as advertised wages dipped $1.60 to $28.49, a combination worth monitoring for whether it signals softening demand intensity even amid high posting volume."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "National WARN filings remain concentrated among large employers like Amazon, Meta, and Tyson Foods with no comparable pattern yet in Idaho, where only 8 WARN notices covering 708 workers have been filed in 2026 \u2014 a gap worth tracking for early signs of spillover."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27713.0, "metro_p50": 33299.2, "metro_p75": 38480.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27136.0, "metro_p50": 29990.0, "metro_p75": 32240.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 31200.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33280.0, "metro_p50": 37583.6, "metro_p75": 40560.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 55120.0, "metro_p50": 72800.0, "metro_p75": 84000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30981.0, "metro_p50": 34617.0, "metro_p75": 38480.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 34344.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 35029.0, "metro_p50": 40560.0, "metro_p75": 46280.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60299.0, "metro_p50": 79236.0, "metro_p75": 87893.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33800.0, "metro_p50": 38480.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33316.75, "metro_p50": 38480.0, "metro_p75": 42640.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Food Service Worker", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29434.5, "metro_p50": 33596.0, "metro_p75": 33902.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 36539.0, "metro_p50": 43680.0, "metro_p75": 46800.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 41106.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 35360.0, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 45760.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57953.0, "metro_p50": 67600.0, "metro_p75": 80000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 89379.5, "metro_p50": 105966.0, "metro_p75": 114876.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 102581.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 119445.0, "metro_p50": 162492.2, "metro_p75": 177099.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 87670.0, "metro_p50": 126680.0, "metro_p75": 144989.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57878.0, "metro_p50": 68266.0, "metro_p75": 78556.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 78385.0, "metro_p50": 95577.0, "metro_p75": 104000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 54508.25, "metro_p50": 65900.0, "metro_p75": 70975.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 45515.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 74344.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 62354.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 51797.0, "metro_p50": 77612.0, "metro_p75": 77612.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 85216.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 32240.0, "metro_p50": 48345.8, "metro_p75": 54021.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 72500.0, "metro_p50": 106835.0, "metro_p75": 120391.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 70000.0, "metro_p50": 70000.0, "metro_p75": 70000.0, "metro_trend_direction": null, "metro_trend_magnitude": null, "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 74419.0, "metro_p50": 97883.2, "metro_p75": 103094.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 55205.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 108860.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 40290.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 50643.5, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 139488.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 67136.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 91607.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 49275.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 33800.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 67305.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [], "methodology": "Advertised pay from active employer job postings, not survey data. WageScape's median is calibrated to correct for spurious low-value postings: distribution analysis shows roughly the lowest 10% of raw values are erroneous entries, so the reported median is the 60th percentile of raw advertised pay.", "edition_label": "October 2026", "files": {"html": "boise-city-nampa-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "boise-city-nampa-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "boise-city-nampa-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T13:48:46.677703+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/boise-city-nampa-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/boise-city-nampa-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}