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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Record unemployment for Idaho in May

The jobs news from May isn't good - nearly 5,600 more Idaho workers lost their jobs, driving the May unemployment rate to a 22-year high of 7.8 percent. It's a time of year when typically there are seasonal employment increases, and there were, but they were well below expected levels, according to the state Department of Labor. Construction payrolls saw their lowest April-to-May increase since 1990, and manufacturing jobs hit their lowest level since 1992. The seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate of 7.8 percent is up from 7 percent in April and 4.5 percent in May of 2008.

Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.