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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 12,626 11,829 797 6.3%
Gooding 10.934 10,310 624 5.7%
Jerome 10,230 9,266 964 9.4%
Minidoka 11,429 10,635 795 7.0%
Twin Falls County 38,502 35,554 2,949 7.7%

* Idaho Department of Labor - October 2010

UNEMPLOYMENT COSTS:

Idaho’s 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 3.1% $62,000
Nevada $25,400 $5,050,000 3.0% $151,500
Oregon $30,200 $6,040,000 2.8% $169,120
Utah $26,700 $5,340,000 5.4% $288,360
Washington $34,000 $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 $24,120 $32,320.80
Arizona $0.83 $35,370 $58,714.20
California $3.03 $29,370 $177,982.20
Colorado $1.56 $27,440 $85,612.80
Nevada $1.34 $26,480 $70,966.40
Oregon $0.86 $28,420 $48,882.40
Utah $0.98 $24,980 $48,960.80
Washington $29,590 $128,960.00
*Washington is a composite rate, both employer and employee contribute to the cost.
Idaho State Insurance Fund, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Note: Rate shown is for ID Class Code 3681.