Although the economy in TWIN FALLS COUNTY remains heavily tied to agriculture, economic developers have succeeded in diversification. The concerted efforts by community partnerships yielded new jobs in various economic sectors. These investments spurred development of a slew of new subdivisions that sent new housing permits to a peak of over 650 in 2005, slowing to under 200 in recent years.

Until the current recession, unemployment peaked at 6.9 percent in 1992 and gradually fell to a record low of 2.4 percent in 2007. The area experienced a lag going into the current recession with job losses not occurring until the fourth quarter 2008 and a doubling of unemployment estimates in 2009. Even as the civilian labor force has steadily grown, Twin Falls County remains below the U.S. and Idaho unemployment rates. In the fallout from the 2001 recession, Twin Falls and Jerome counties consistently outperformed the rest of the state.

Twin Falls County experienced a strong uptick in retail and service jobs as big box retailers converged on the entrance to the city and its main artery. A Wal-Mart super center opened in summer 2009 along with two hotels and a long-awaited new high school. The new regional medical center is scheduled to open in 2011 with strong prospects for additional medical office development in the vicinity. The College of Southern Idaho’s new health science building opened in February 2010.

*Idaho Department of Labor, January 2010

Twin Falls County Work Force Trends

Seasonally adjusted unemployment in JEROME COUNTY has improved the past few years as has been the trend throughout Idaho. It dropped from a high of 4.6 percent in 1998 to a low of 2.5 percent in 2007, driven by economic diversification, development and growth in the dairy industry. The current downturn has unemployment creeping back up but not to the record levels of 1983 when the average adjusted rate was 9.7 percent. While dairy has provided many stable jobs directly and indirectly, it remains a volatile commodity. Jerome County is expected to resume its recent experience of relatively low unemployment and continue to outperform the nation and state. The economic outlook remains optimistic with continued development of the Crossroads Point Business Center, the concerted efforts of economic development professionals toward green energy industry is expected to pay off over the next decade with the help of Jerome’s convenient locatio on Interstate 84 and job creation efforts by industry clusters.

Hilex Poly, an advanced plastics manufacturer that makes grocery bags, and Idaho Milk Products with its new state-of-the-art milk processing plant are examples of new companies requiring workers with high skill sets. The dairy industry continues to be a major factor in the economy and community, drawing feeder businesses such as Jerome Cheese, West Farm Foods Inc. and WOW Logistics.

*Idaho Department of Labor, January 2010

Jerome County Work Force Trends

MINIDOKA COUNTY traditionally has the highest unemployment rate of all south central Idaho counties. The rate peaked at 8.1 percent in 1998 and fell to a record low 3.6 percent in 2007. In the past, many workers relied on fresh pack potato operations, farm jobs, sugar processing and potato processing for employment. But In 2003, the J.R. Simplot Co. closed its Heyburn plant, Since then, Simplot has donated the plant along the Snake River to the city of Burley for an industrial park, which now has a retail outlet, restaurant and farmer’s market in the summer. Gossner Cheese was lured to the industrial park. Minidoka County is commonly combined with Cassia County.

Idaho Department of Labor, January 2010

Minidoka County Work Force Trends

In 2007, CASSIA COUNTY's unemployment rate dropped almost a full percentage point to a record low of 3 percent before rising again in 2008 to 4 percent, which many economists still see as full employment. Commercial and home construction is outpacing the region, state and nation as corporate managers for these new companies relocate to an area that had not been overbuilt. There is a resurgence of interest in Cassia County because of its low real estate prices and the proximity of outdoor recreation. The outlook for the county’s job and labor force is strong over the long run.

Idaho Department of Labor, January 2010

Cassia County Work Force Trends

BENEFITS & LABOR FORCE COMPARISONS:

Economy.com ranks Idaho the third lowest state in the West in overall cost of doing business.

COMPARISONS - OVERALL BUSINESS COSTS IN WESTERN STATES*
Idaho	89
Arizona	99
California	118
Colorado	102
Nevada	97
Oregon	96
Utah	92
Washington	99

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