Idaho’s Unemployment Holds Steady

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — New figures show Idaho's adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6.2 percent from February to March. The Department of Labor report released Friday shows Camas County has the lowest rate at 3.7 percent, while northern Idaho counties like Benewah, Clearwater and Shoshone all have rates higher than 10 percent.

While jobs have been generated faster in Idaho than the national average, the report shows labor numbers still remain at 2011 levels when few employers were creating new positions. Overall, the report shows employers hired 13,000 people for new and replacement jobs in March — 500 fewer than companies hired in March 2012.

The number of new hires represents twice Idaho's five-year average, since the economy began to tumble in 2008. About 1,400 people left the workforce in March.