{"schema_version": 1, "id": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "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": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:46:23.367560+00:00", "headline": "Idaho Falls wages climb as labor force growth outpaces job creation.", "headline_summary": "Southeastern Idaho advertised wages jumped 12.5% to $22.09 an hour even as unemployment rose to 3.9%, a sign more workers are entering the market faster than employers are adding positions.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Southeastern Idaho unemployment rate", "value": "3.9%", "context": "Up from 3.1% in Bonneville County, July 2026"}, {"label": "Average advertised hourly wage", "value": "$22.09", "context": "Up 12.5% YoY from $19.63"}, {"label": "Job postings volume", "value": "2,817", "context": "Up 13.8% YoY across 658 employers"}, {"label": "Idaho Falls nonfarm job growth", "value": "0.1%", "context": "Smallest gain among growing Idaho metros"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Labor force growth is outpacing job creation in Idaho Falls.", "body": "Unemployment ticked up to 3.9% in southeastern Idaho even as job postings grew nearly 14% year-over-year, a signal of hiring demand where one ad often covers several openings. This pattern is consistent with net in-migration adding workers faster than new positions are created, a combination that typically signals a market gaining capacity."}, {"headline": "Wage gains in Idaho Falls are outpacing the state and national average.", "body": "Advertised hourly wages in southeastern Idaho rose 12.5% year-over-year to $22.09, well above Idaho's 4.7% statewide wage growth and the national 4.1% pace. Commerce leaders should treat this as a signal of employer competition for a still-tight frontline workforce despite rising unemployment."}, {"headline": "Healthcare wage strength stands out against a mixed metro-wide picture.", "body": "Certified Nursing Assistant pay rose significantly to $41,600 and Registered Nurse pay climbed to $92,359 locally, tracking a national pattern where healthcare leads private-sector hiring demand. That divergence from flatter sectors like retail and administrative work suggests healthcare capacity is the metro's clearest growth story."}, {"headline": "Professional and technical pay softness bucks the local wage-growth narrative.", "body": "Software Engineer, Data Engineer, Accountant, and Business Analyst advertised pay all declined locally even as frontline and healthcare wages rose, a divergence worth watching for what it implies about the metro's higher-wage professional base. Economic development officials courting knowledge-sector employers should weigh this against the region's otherwise strong wage-growth headline."}], "local_conditions": "Idaho Falls metro job growth slowed to 0.1% month-over-month in September, trailing both Boise and other Idaho metros even as southeastern Idaho's unemployment rate climbed to 3.9%, reflecting new entrants to the labor force. Job postings rose 13.8% year-over-year across the region's 658 employers with average advertised hourly wages up 12.5% to $22.09, a combination that points to employers competing for a labor pool growing faster than job creation. Job postings are a signal of hiring demand, and because one ad often covers several openings, posting counts should not be read as a count of openings or hires.", "implications": "Rising advertised wages alongside a climbing unemployment rate is consistent with a labor market where population growth is outpacing job creation, a dynamic that commerce leaders should read as expanding consumer and workforce capacity. Slower fill times (postings open a median 31 days) and modest job growth suggest expansion plans may face longer timelines to reach full staffing even though candidates are more available than a year ago. Local economic development organizations should consider framing labor force growth as the metro's primary selling point to prospective employers evaluating relocation or expansion, alongside tight unemployment.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Southeastern Idaho's unemployment uptick to 3.9% warrants tracking over the next two reports to confirm it reflects labor force entrants and not the start of a hiring slowdown. A continued rise alongside flat job postings would change the read from expansion to softening."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Idaho National Laboratory and Naval Nuclear Laboratory hiring activity, highlighted at June's regional hiring event, remains a bellwether for the metro's technical and skilled-trade labor demand. Any shift in federal lab staffing posture would ripple through the broader southeastern Idaho economy given its scale relative to the metro workforce."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Posting duration at 31 days, longer than a year ago, suggests employers are taking more time to fill roles even with more candidates available. A further lengthening would point to skills or geographic mismatches, relevant to any workforce-pipeline investment decisions."}, {"category": "Policy watch", "body": "Federal immigration enforcement activity and tariff policy continue to shape labor force and manufacturing input costs nationally; neither has produced a documented, metro-specific effect in Idaho Falls this month. Commerce leaders should track official Idaho Department of Labor releases for any local read-through on these national dynamics."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24960.0, "metro_p50": 30175.6, "metro_p75": 33307.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33340.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24223.0, "metro_p50": 28080.0, "metro_p75": 30692.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 31268.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 36113.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 38480.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 53018.0, "metro_p50": 77900.0, "metro_p75": 90710.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 78872.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28817.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 34826.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33953.5, "metro_p50": 37294.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 62400.0, "metro_p50": 69375.2, "metro_p75": 82405.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71835.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 33280.0, "metro_p75": 37049.0, "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": 21840.0, "metro_p50": 36179.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 28080.0, "metro_p50": 31200.0, "metro_p75": 38610.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 33764.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33186.0, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 41600.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 35300.0, "metro_p50": 41329.0, "metro_p75": 45000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 76960.0, "metro_p50": 80176.4, "metro_p75": 81120.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 81120.0, "metro_p50": 92359.0, "metro_p75": 105105.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 102252.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 103956.0, "metro_p50": 123831.2, "metro_p75": 132550.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 85520.0, "metro_p50": 120577.6, "metro_p75": 136639.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 48887.0, "metro_p50": 51098.0, "metro_p75": 62400.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 63816.75, "metro_p50": 71464.0, "metro_p75": 81937.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94646.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 37265.5, "metro_p50": 56189.0, "metro_p75": 56389.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 74477.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 46928.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 75435.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 62916.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 70709.0, "metro_p50": 77612.0, "metro_p75": 82054.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 86294.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27040.0, "metro_p50": 51500.0, "metro_p75": 56061.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60807.0, "metro_p50": 86219.8, "metro_p75": 94668.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94009.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"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": 83668.0, "metro_p50": 88374.2, "metro_p75": 106116.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 98302.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 66431.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 74250.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 37372.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 45626.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 50000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 44837.5, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 77598.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 49880.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 27040.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 65425.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "Idaho Department of Labor", "source_url": null, "statement": "Idaho Falls nonfarm job growth of 0.1% month-over-month in September 2026"}, {"source_name": "Idaho Labor Market Information", "source_url": null, "statement": "Southeastern Idaho unemployment rate reached 3.9% in September 2026"}, {"source_name": "Idaho Labor Market Information", "source_url": null, "statement": "Average advertised hourly wage in southeastern Idaho rose to $22.09"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)", "source_url": null, "statement": "Idaho statewide wage growth of 4.7% ranks third nationally"}, {"source_name": "Idaho Department of Labor", "source_url": null, "statement": "Bonneville County unemployment at 3.1% in July 2026"}, {"source_name": "Idaho@work", "source_url": null, "statement": "Idaho National Laboratory and Naval Nuclear Laboratory regional hiring event"}], "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": "November 2026", "files": {"html": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:23:28.045189+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/idaho-falls-id-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}