08/07/09

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Idaho's unemployment rate increased again in
July to 8.8 percent, the highest in 26 years.

The Idaho Department of Labor reports the state has a record
65,900 out of work and paid out more than $45 million in
unemployment benefits last month, four times the amount paid a year
ago.

The number of jobless last month was significantly higher than
July 2008 when 37,400 people were out of work and a jump from the
June rate of 8.4 percent.

Despite the statewide gain, some areas reported a slight decline
in jobless rates.

The Boise metropolitan area, which represents about 40 percent
of the state's work force, came in at 10.1 percent, down from 10.2
percent in June.

Canyon County dipped to 11.9 percent, down from 12.3 percent in
June.

The Twin Falls area the unemployment rate went up to 7.3 and that's the Twin Falls, Jerome, Gooding county reporting area which is up from 4.0 a year ago and 6.4 in the last month from June.

The Mini–Cassia area came through a little better, out of the 10 reporting areas statistical areas in the state they're the lowest of those ten.

Idaho's record unemployment rate is 9.4 percent, recorded
between October 1982 through February 1983.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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