Employment in Idaho’s two largest counties increased between March 2024 and March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ada County saw a 1.6 percent rise in employment, while Canyon County reported a 0.9 percent increase during this period.
Ada County recorded the highest employment figure among Idaho counties with 287,800 jobs as of March 2025. Together, Ada and Canyon counties made up 44.3 percent of all covered employment in Idaho. On a national scale, the largest 372 counties account for about 73.4 percent of total covered employment across the United States.
Both Ada and Canyon counties experienced average weekly wage growth of 3.9 percent over the year. Despite these gains, average weekly wages in both counties remained below the national average of $1,589—standing at $1,386 in Ada and $1,013 in Canyon.
For Idaho’s smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 employees—employment and wage levels are also tracked but not their annual changes. Of these smaller counties, Butte had the highest average weekly wage at $2,275, while Boise County reported the lowest at $652.
Across all Idaho counties, twelve reported average weekly wages under $900; nine had wages from $900 to $974; thirteen ranged from $975 to $1,049; and ten posted wages of $1,050 or higher.
QCEW data for states are included in table three of this release. National coverage for large county employment is available through the County Employment and Wages news release on the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.
The next County Employment and Wages report covering second quarter data for 2025 is scheduled for release on December 3, 2025.
“Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Ada County had an over-the-year employment increase of 1.6 percent, and Canyon County reported an increase of 0.9 percent.”
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