Posted: Oct 3, 2008  13:35

Boundary County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was hardly a pretty picture.

Not only did the county post the fourth highest jobless rate among Idaho's 44 counties at 8.3 percent; its 1.3 percent jump from August to September was the third highest monthly increase in the state, as the sharp decline of jobs in almost every sector continued since the economy began to slow down a year ago.

Twelve months ago, Boundary County's unemployment rate stood at 5.4 percent, a whopping three percentages lower than its September 2008 rate.

Across the state, Idaho's overall economic picture wasn't much prettier. Its jobless rate for September also spiked, jumping four-tenths of a point to 5 percent, the third highest one-month jump this year and the highest rate since January 2004.

The Idaho Department of Labor said it was the second straight month the Idaho economy failed to produce the normal increase in jobs; employers hired fewer people in September than in any year since 2002 during the fallout from the last national recession.

Dave Darrow, who manages the Department of Labor's Bonners Ferry office, points to the struggling national economy and an increased labor force stemming from legislation extending unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks that contributed to the hit Boundary County took in September.

"Everyone is feeling the effects of tough economic times right now and is struggling just to maintain," he said. "Compared to a year ago, our civilian labor force is higher because of the federal unemployment extension, which requires those receiving benefits to look for work. It means that more people are available for employment."

Last year, the county's civilian labor force was 3,997 compared to 4,173 for September 2008. Nearly 135 more people were unemployed last month than one year ago at this time.

However, the total number of persons employed in Boundary County last month was slightly higher than September 2007.

"It's not great, but it's not as bad as it could be," said Darrow. "We're hanging in there."