Idaho jobless rate decreases

Idaho's economy generated more jobs than expected in April, putting over 3,000 people back to work, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.

The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for the first time in more than four years also dropped. The rate fell a tenth of a point, from a record 9.7-percent in March to 9.6-percent. The unemployment rate for April, 2010, was 9.1-percent.

Just over 73,000 Idaho workers remained on the job in April, down 700 from March.

More people joined the Idaho work force in April and more found work than in any other month since January, 2006. 

Good news statewide, however,  Boundary County continues to lag behind. 

In April, there were 4,909 people working in Boundary County, with 698 people unemployed. In the month of March 4,742 workers to 678 unemployed.  There was a tenth of a point drop in the county unemployment rate, 14.3-in March and 14.2-percent in April.

Last April, the county unemployment rate stood at 14.8-percent.

Only three other Idaho counties have higher April unemployment rates; Valley County at 16.4 percent, Clearwater County with 15.3 percent unemployed and Adams County with 14.3 percent. Oneida County has the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 5.3percent.

After 33 months of year over year declines, April was the fourth straight month that current job totals exceeded levels of a year earlier.

April was the second straight month that more people found work than entered the labor force.