Idaho Sees Rise In Unemployment Rate

February’s cold snap contributed to higher unemployment throughout the five Panhandle counties, the state employment department said Friday.

Kootenai County unemployment rose to 6.8 percent in February from 6.4 percent in January. Most of the uptick can be blamed on chilly weather last month, said Kathryn Tacke, analyst at the Idaho Department of Employment.

For the Panhandle, unemployment rose to 8.5 percent from 7.3 in January. Less logging and mill activity in Benewah county helped push its unemployment rate to 12.5 percent from 10 percent in January, Tacke said.

Idaho unemployment stood at 5.7 percent in February while the national average fell to 5.4 percent.

Last February Kootenai County’s jobless rate was 6.6 percent.

Unemployment rates in February compared to January for other Panhandle counties: Benewah, 12.5 percent from 10 percent; Bonner, 8.2 percent from 8 percent; Boundary, 8.2 percent from 7.9 percent, Shoshone, 8.5 percent from 7.3 percent.