{"schema_version": 1, "id": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 209, "label": "Idaho Falls, ID MSA", "slug": "idaho-falls-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": "2026-10-09T13:40:04.358995+00:00", "headline": "Idaho Falls job growth leads the state, but headcount still shrank.", "headline_summary": "Idaho Falls posted Idaho's strongest monthly job gain (0.8% in August) and advertised wages near $25.08 an hour, even as year-over-year employment fell 0.9% and unemployment rose to 3.6%.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "3.6%", "context": "Up from 3.0% in July; +0.3 pts vs Aug 2025"}, {"label": "Month-over-month job growth", "value": "0.8%", "context": "Highest among Idaho's metro areas, August 2026"}, {"label": "Advertised hourly wage", "value": "$25.08", "context": "Up from $22.95 a year earlier"}, {"label": "Construction share of employment", "value": "6.4%", "context": "Vs 4.1% nationally"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Job growth and job quality are moving in opposite directions.", "body": "Idaho Falls led all Idaho metros in month-over-month job gains (0.8% in August) yet posted a 0.9% year-over-year employment decline, with the unemployment rate climbing from 3.0% to 3.6% over the same span. That combination is consistent with employers filling specific skilled gaps rather than broad-based payroll expansion."}, {"headline": "Construction's outsized local weight makes the metro rate-sensitive.", "body": "Construction and extraction account for 6.4% of Idaho Falls employment versus 4.1% nationally, a concentration that ties local economic momentum more tightly to financing conditions and public infrastructure spending than most peer metros. Watch this sector as an early signal of broader momentum shifts."}, {"headline": "Advertised wages are outrunning the national wage-inflation squeeze.", "body": "Metro advertised hourly pay rose roughly 9% year-over-year to $25.08, well ahead of the national wage slowdown to 3.0% annual growth against 3.4% inflation reported for September. Local purchasing power appears comparatively insulated for now, though the gap bears monitoring as a leading rather than settled signal."}, {"headline": "Innovation Center relocation adds a quiet signal of institutional confidence.", "body": "The Idaho Innovation Center's move into the former Melaleuca headquarters, with a commercial-kitchen transfer and rebrand planned for October, represents continued private-institutional investment in the metro's commercial core. Commerce leaders may find this a useful anchor point for conversations about downtown and innovation-economy repositioning."}], "local_conditions": "Idaho Falls posted the strongest month-over-month nonfarm job gain of any Idaho metro in August (0.8%), even as the metro's year-over-year employment count fell 0.9% and the regional unemployment rate rose to 3.6% from 3.0% in July \u2014 a sign that growth is uneven rather than broad-based. Advertised hourly wages climbed to $25.08 in August from $22.95 a year earlier, a pace that outstrips the metro's modest job-count contraction and suggests employers are competing for a narrower pool of workers even as total headcount softens.", "implications": "Divergence between rising advertised pay and a shrinking year-over-year job count points to a labor market that is tightening in quality even as it cools in quantity \u2014 a pattern commerce leaders should read as selective capacity constraint rather than broad expansion. Construction and extraction's outsized local footprint (6.4% of employment versus 4.1% nationally), combined with the Idaho Innovation Center's relocation to the former Melaleuca headquarters, signals continued investment appetite in the metro's traditional and innovation-economy anchors alike. Current conditions suggest monitoring whether wage gains in skilled trades and health care are matched by comparable labor-force growth before treating the metro as fully expansion-ready.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Eastern Idaho's unemployment rate has risen for two straight readings (3.0% to 3.6%) even as job postings and wages climb \u2014 watch whether October data confirm a genuine softening or a one-month statistical wobble."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "The Idaho Innovation Center's October rebrand announcement may clarify how much new commercial activity the relocation will generate locally, relevant to downtown Idaho Falls commercial-corridor planning."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Statewide, employers report longer job-fill timelines despite rising postings and a reversal in advertised-wage growth in some regions (south-central Idaho wages fell year-over-year) \u2014 a pattern to monitor for whether it reaches eastern Idaho next."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "National WARN activity remains historically moderate (initial claims at 197,000 for the week ending September 19) with no major Idaho Falls-specific notices reported this month, a continuity signal worth confirming against state WARN filings in October."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24960.0, "metro_p50": 29120.0, "metro_p75": 33012.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24138.0, "metro_p50": 28080.0, "metro_p75": 30717.0, "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": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 51236.0, "metro_p50": 75400.0, "metro_p75": 90710.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28705.0, "metro_p50": 33500.0, "metro_p75": 37922.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 34344.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33280.0, "metro_p50": 36964.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "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": 62400.0, "metro_p50": 69173.0, "metro_p75": 82405.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31105.25, "metro_p50": 33280.0, "metro_p75": 35565.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30197.5, "metro_p50": 36400.0, "metro_p75": 37440.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 27915.0, "metro_p50": 32745.0, "metro_p75": 34154.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 32474.0, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 41106.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 35297.0, "metro_p50": 41126.0, "metro_p75": 45000.0, "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": 77410.25, "metro_p50": 81120.0, "metro_p75": 81120.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 79810.25, "metro_p50": 95036.8, "metro_p75": 108735.0, "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": 103956.0, "metro_p50": 125830.8, "metro_p75": 140944.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 85521.0, "metro_p50": 120596.0, "metro_p75": 137146.25, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 48887.0, "metro_p50": 51098.0, "metro_p75": 62475.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 65091.0, "metro_p50": 80924.2, "metro_p75": 82309.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 53769.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 70900.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 46701.75, "metro_p50": 62731.4, "metro_p75": 72192.0, "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": 29120.0, "metro_p50": 52056.0, "metro_p75": 56061.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58468.0, "metro_p50": 87980.2, "metro_p75": 94668.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "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": 83738.0, "metro_p50": 112785.2, "metro_p75": 118239.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 64018.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 70695.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 36413.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 44152.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 50000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 44710.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 74939.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 49347.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 26062.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 66907.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "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": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T13:51:38.998429+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}