Employment in Idaho’s two largest counties, Ada and Canyon, increased from March 2024 to March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund stated that “Ada County had an over-the-year employment increase of 1.6 percent, and Canyon County reported an increase of 0.9 percent.”
Ada County reported the highest employment among the two, with 287,800 jobs as of March 2025. Combined, Ada and Canyon counties represented 44.3 percent of Idaho’s total covered employment for the period.
The average weekly wage in both large counties grew by 3.9 percent over the year. However, wages remained below the national average of $1,589 per week; Ada County averaged $1,386 while Canyon County averaged $1,013.
Data for Idaho’s smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 employees—showed most also lagged behind the national wage average. Butte County posted the highest weekly wage at $2,275 among small counties in Idaho, while Boise County recorded the lowest at $652.
Of all Idaho’s 44 counties, a dozen had average weekly wages under $900; nine fell between $900 and $974; thirteen ranged from $975 to $1,049; and ten counties recorded wages at or above $1,050.
Comprehensive information on county-level employment and wages is published quarterly by BLS for both state and national coverage (https://www.bls.gov/cew/news-release.htm). Further technical details about these statistics can be found on the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew/).
The next release covering second quarter data is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
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