Jobless rates statewide, locally rise as labor force grows

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 3.8 percent in October, according to a release issued by the Idaho Department of Labor. “More than 16,000 people entered the workforce in October, and almost 10,000 more people found work”. The government supersector lost 3,000 jobs (-1.3 percent, 235,700) last month and is down over the year by 0.8 percent. In 13 of those states, the rate was equal to or lower than the second quarter national average for African Americans at 8.5 percent.

However, 4,500 jobs were cut from the payrolls of Iowa businesses in October. “We are No. 1 in the country”. Governor Scott made the announcement at Ideal Aluminum, a manufacturer of aluminum fences, gates and railings in St. Augustine. The October jobs report shows that more than 117,000 MA residents have no job.

The size of the labor force almost doubled since September, growing by 64,000 people. “This shows a marked increase in the confidence level of jobseekers”.

The biggest drop in initial claims since June suggests employers are loath to fire workers as the economy continues its modest expansion and the number of experienced applicants available for hiring remains limited.

“Those are two really good signs for us to see”, said Curtis Englehart, manager of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. “That’s what we’ve done”. The Lincoln area had 818 more jobs in October than in October 2015.

In addition to the steep decline in jobs for October, the Labor Department also revised September’s employment numbers downward. The only county in the state with a lower unemployment rate in October was San Mateo, which had a 3.2 percent rate. It is unusual for the unadjusted rate to fall from September to October, given typical seasonality, but changes that small aren’t necessarily significant.

Over the last 12 months, non-farm employment has now grown by just 3,200 jobs, or 0.2 percent.