Personal Income On The Rise In Most Idaho Counties

Idaho Department of Labor

Thirty-seven Idaho counties posted personal income gains in 2010. (Click to enlarge)

The Idaho Department of Labor reports personal income grew in most counties in 2010.

As StateImpact recently reported, Idaho’s personal income grew 5.4 percent from 2010 to 2011.  Now, county-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows 37 of Idaho’s 44 counties posted personal income gains in 2010.  That’s positive news considering just five counties posted personal income growth back in 2009.

“Most counties continued to lose jobs in 2010 although the average annual wage in all but nine rose as employers began restoring hours cut during the recession and rewarding employees they kept on for handling a heavier workload.  Overall, however, business profits rose more than wages, jumping 13 percent statewide compared to a 2.1 percent rise in worker paychecks. Worker wages outperformed business profits in only eight counties – Butte, Camas, Caribou, Custer, Fremont, Latah, Minidoka and Power – and in the case of Camas, Caribou and Power, wages merely declined less than business profits.” – Idaho Department of Labor

As we reported last month, those gains in personal income are due in large part to increases in farm earnings.  The health care and professional services industries also contributed to personal income growth. The construction industry posted the biggest earnings losses.

Idaho’s per capita personal income increased slightly, rising from $31,897 in 2010 to $33,326 in 2011.

Still, Idaho’s per capita income is one of the lowest in the country.