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LABOR COST COMPARISONS
Labor Force and Employment
Annual Average Labor Force Data |
| Area | Civilian Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Percent Unemployment Rate |
| Cassia |
9,476 |
8,763 |
713 |
7.5% |
| Jerome |
10,453 |
9,520 |
933 |
8.9% |
| Minidoka |
9,491 |
8,089 |
803 |
9.0% |
| Twin Falls County |
39,674 |
36,673 |
3,001 |
7.6% |
* Idaho Department of Labor - January 2010
UNEMPLOYMENT COSTS:
Idahos unemployment insurance program adjusts annual employer rates more equitably. This new structure, adopted in 2005, makes the same percentage change, up or down, in the tax rate of every employer, regardless of the experience rating. This new tax mechanism also triggers lower tax rates than the previous system under similar economic conditions.
Average Unemployment Insurance Costs, New Employers 2008*
|
| | Maximum Wage Base |
Taxable Amount |
New Employer Rate |
Contribution |
| Idaho |
$33,200 |
$6,440,000 |
1.302% |
$83,848 |
| Arizona |
$7,000 |
$1,400,000 |
2.0% |
$28,000 |
| California |
$7,000 |
$1,400,000 |
3.4% |
$47,600 |
| Colorado |
$10,000 |
$2,000,000 |
2.520% |
$50,400 |
| Nevada |
$26,600 |
$5,050,000 |
2.950% |
$148,975 |
| Oregon |
$31,300 |
$6,040,000 |
2.4% |
$144,960 |
| Utah |
$27,800 |
$5,340,000 |
5.4% |
$288,360 |
| Washington |
$35,700 |
$6,280,000 |
2.70% |
$169,560 |
* Payroll-Taxes.com, May 2009
WORKERS' COMP RATES:
Idaho employers with workers compensation insurance pay some of the lowest premiums in the country. If lower-than-normal rates create a surplus, policyholders save in the form of rate deviations or actual dividends.
Annual Workers Compensation Costs in Western States (in thousands) 2008*
|
| |
Rate Per $100 of Payroll |
Average Annual Wage |
Total Cost |
| Idaho |
$0.68 |
$24,990 |
$33,986.40 |
| Arizona |
$0.72 |
$35,850 |
$51,624.00 |
| California |
$3.09 |
$29,830 |
$184,349.40 |
| Colorado |
$1.40 |
$30,150 |
$84,420.00 |
| Nevada |
$1.23 |
$28,100 |
$69,126.00 |
| Oregon |
$0.71 |
$29,140 |
$41,378.80 |
| Utah |
$0.73 |
$28,990 |
$42,325.40 |
| Washington |
$0.32 |
$30,070 |
$19,419.21 |
*Washington is a composite rate, both employer and employee contribute to the cost.
Idaho State Insurance Fund, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2009.
Note: Rate shown is for ID Class Code 3681.
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