State of Idaho Idaho Department of Labor
Idaho Department of Labor
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Equal Opportunity Employer
Measuring Underemployment in Idaho

 

Who are the underemployed?

Why measure underemployment? 

Owhyee County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 16.0% Number of Employed: 4,827 Unemployment Rate: 2.2% Twin Falls County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 9.8% Number of Employed: 39,038 Unemployment Rate: 3.0% Cassia County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 14.4% Number of Employed: 10,060 Unemployment Rate: 3.8% Oneida County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 0.7% Number of Employed: 2,174 Unemployment Rate: 2.3% Franklin County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 4.9% Number of Employed: 6,128 Unemployment Rate: 2.8% Bear Lake County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 0.7% Number of Employed: 2,996 Unemployment Rate: 3.1% Caribou County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 2.6% Number of Employed: 3,296 Unemployment Rate: 4.0% Bannock County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 11.3% Number of Employed: 39,266 Unemployment Rate: 3.5% Power County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 7.0% Number of Employed: 3,643 Unemployment Rate: 4.8% Bonneville County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 14.4% Number of Employed: 10,060 Unemployment Rate: 3.8% Bingham County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 17.8% Number of Employed: 19,974 Unemployment Rate: 3.5% Teton County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 12.0% Number of Employed: 4,518 Unemployment Rate: 42.2% Madison County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 18.4% Number of Employed: 14,317 Unemployment Rate: 2.7% Fremont County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 18.3% Number of Employed: 35,754 Unemployment Rate: 3.7% Clark County\2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 56.4% Number of Employed: 510 Unemployment Rate: 3.9% Jefferson County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 18.4% Number of Employed: 9,970 Unemployment Rate: 3.1% Minidoka County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 28.0% Number of Employed: 9,367 Unemployment Rate: 4.5% Butte County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 13.6% Number of Employed: 1,145 Unemployment Rate: 4.2% Jerome County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 28.9% Number of Employed: 10,459 Unemployment Rate: 3.0% Lincoln County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 2.9% Number of Employed: 2,512 Unemployment Rate: 3.9% Blaine County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 18.2% Number of Employed: 14,109 Unemployment Rate: 2.5% Gooding County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 10.1% Number of Employed: 8,430 Unemployment Rate: 2.6% Elmore County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 14.3% Number of Employed: 10,396 Unemployment Rate: 4.1% Camas County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 1.6% Number of Employed: 617 Unemployment Rate: 2.7% Ada County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 11.4% Number of Employed: 189,706 Unemployment Rate: 2.7% Custer County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 24.8% Number of Employed: 2,465 Unemployment Rate: 4.1% Lemhi County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 29.6% Number of Employed: 3,793 Unemployment Rate: 5.5% Boise County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 18.0% Number of Employed: 3,687 Unemployment Rate: 3.5% Canyon County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 13.5% Number of Employed: 78,944 Unemployment Rate: 3.6% Gem County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 23.4% Number of Employed: 7,226 Unemployment Rate: 3.9% Payette County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 18.8% Number of Employed: 9,808 Unemployment Rate: 5.4% Valley County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 17.2% Number of Employed: 4,810 Unemployment Rate: 4.0% Washington County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 13.5% Number of Employed: 4,810 Unemployment Rate: 4.4% Adams County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 18.2% Number of Employed: 1,952 Unemployment Rate: 6.6% Idaho County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 19.1% Number of Employed: 6,702 Unemployment Rate: 6.2% Lewis County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 24.8% Number of Employed: 1,693 Unemployment Rate: 3.1% Clearwater County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 13.8% Number of Employed: 3,047 Unemployment Rate: 8.3% Nez Perce Couty 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 20.9% Number of Employed: 18,157 Unemployment Rate: 3.9% Latah County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 10.3 Number of Employed: 17,987 Unemployment Rate: 3.0% Shoshone County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 10.4% Number of Employed: 5,327 Unemployment Rate: 7.3% Benewah County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 10.3% Number of Employed: 4,030 Unemployment Rate: 7.1% Kootenai County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 9.4% Number of Employed: 66,621 Unemployment Rate: 3.8% Bonner County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 13.2% Number of Employed: 19,844 Unemployment Rate: 4.5% Boundary County 2006 Annual Underemployment Rate: 31.2% Number of Employed: 3,946 Unemployment Rate: 7.1%

Underemployment Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who are the underemployed?

The definition for underemployment is complex and can vary across disciplines. In general those already working with skill and educational levels that do not match their current occupations or their fringe or salary compensation can be considered underemployed. Also if workers' current jobs do not match their desire to work full time, they can be considered underemployed. The underemployed represent a pool of labor in addition to the unemployed that economic developers and existing businesses can tap.

While Idaho’s unemployment rates are nearly at rock bottom, according the Idaho Department of Labor’s report "Measuring Underemployment in Idaho," unemployment only tells part of the story. The report's underlying theme is that there are many workers in the state who need or want a better job. In addition, the underemployed part of the work force can provide an additional source of labor for new and expanding businesses.

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What people are saying about the study
 
"The information contained in the study of underemployment is a breakthrough in how we think about employment and is certainly important to all of us who work in work force areas and could prove to be extremely valuable to those in education and training! If we can match the underemployed with job opportunities that match their skill levels, it should mean increased productivity for companies and increased incomes for individuals."
Con P. Paulos, President, Con Paulos Inc.