EMPLOYMENT
 Idaho has a strong and diversified economy. While the traditional resource-based Industries of agriculture, forest products, and mining continue to contribute to the economy, high-tech, tourism, retail trade, healthcare, and business and information services are growth sectors. As in any economy, employment growth in Idaho is not uniform. In the past few years, some counties experienced strong growth, some remained unchanged, and some declined. After slow employment growth in 2002 and 2003, economic activity in 2004 added over 15,000 jobs statewide. In 2005 and 2006, the state's economy is  expected to grow more slowly, adding jobs at a rate of about 1.7 percent per year; a rate that is expected to exceed the national average.

For employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors, contact Idaho Commerce & Labor at 317W. Main
 Street, Boise, Idaho 83735 or any of the 24 local offices throughout the state. Addresses and phone numbers of these
 offices are in the directory on the Commerce & Labor home page ci.idaho.gov. Idaho's larger communities also are served
 by excellent private firms that match job seekers with employment opportunities in the private sector.

AVERAGE CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE  2004
Civilian Labor Force 703,067
 Unemployment 33,339
 Percent Unemployment 4.7%
 Total Employment 669,728

NON-FARM PAYROLL JOBS
 Annual Average 2004
 Total 587,081
 Construction 39,670
 Manufacturing 61,444
 Retail & Wholesale Trade 98,834
 Transportation & Warehousing 17,058
 Financial Activities 27,867
 Professional & Business Service 73,228
 Educational & Health Services 65,115
 Leisure & Hospitality Services 55,566
 Government 114,299

AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS BY INDUSTRY -2004
 Construction..............................$14.95
 Manufacturing..............................19.95
 Retail Trade...............................10.72
 Wholesale Trade............................17.76
 Transportation & Warehousing...............13.00
 Financial Activities.......................17.56
 Professional & Business Services...........15.64
 Educational & Health Services..............13.65
 Leisure & Hospitality Services..............5.48
 Information................................17.51

MEDIAN HOURLY WAGE BY OCCUPATION - 2005
 Financial managers ..............................................$26.23
 General & operations managers....................24.58
 Computer programmers .25.07
 Computer systems analysts........................29.53
 Electronics engineers............................35.90
 Accountants & auditors...........................20.50
 Retail salespersons...............................8.96
 Office clerks, general...........................10.74
 Cashiers..........................................7.84
 Exec. secretaries & admin. assistants............13.76
 Receptionists & information clerks...............10.02
 Electrical & electronic equip. assemblers........11.58
 Assemblers & fabricators..........................8.56
 Electricians.....................................21.30
 Helpers, construction trades.....................10.43
 Carpenters.......................................14.05
 Welders, cutters, solderers, & brazers...........13.88
 Truck drivers, heavy & tractor-trailer...........14.52
 Logging equipment operators......................18.19
 Crushing, grinding, & polishing machine
 sefters, operators, & tenders.................13.09
 Janitors & cleaners...............................8.73
 Registered nurses................................22.66
 Child, family, & school social workers...........13.80
 Medical & clinical lab technicians...............13.90
 Nursing aides, orderlies, & aftendants............8.83
 Cooks, restaurant.................................8.36

TAXES
 The combined total of state and local taxes on Income, property, sales, and autos for a family of four with $25,000 annual income in Boise, Idaho, is lower than the comparable tax in the largest city of 44 other states.  For a family with an income level of $50,000, Boise's total tax is lower than that in the largest city of 30 other states.  For a family with an income level of $75,000, it is lower  than that in the largest city of 20 other states. For a family with an income level of $100,000, Boise's total tax is lower than that in the largest city of 19 other states.

PROPERTY TAXES
 Below are average property tax rates within the
 following communities:
 
 Boise 1.725%
 Coeur d'Alene 1.750%
 Idaho Falls 2.259%
 Lewiston 2.192%
 Nampa 2.193%
 Pocatello 2.404%
 Twin Falls 1.741%

Because of the homeowner's exemption, these rates are applied to only half of the value of the first $100,000 of improvements on owner-occupied homesites but are applied to 100 percent of the land value. They represent typical rates in the largest city in selected counties.

INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX
Idaho's income tax base closely parallels the definition used by the federal government. In general, the same income is taxed and the same deductions are allowed.

The Idaho tax rates range from 1.6 percent to 7.8 percent of taxable income. The maximum rate begins at $22,577 for single filers and $45,154 for married couples and heads of households. Idaho income tax brackets are indexed for inflation each year.

AIR QUALITY
 O~traII Idaho's air quality is good throughout the year. A few locations experience winter temperature inversions, and in some localities pollen affects people who have allergies.

WATER QUALITY
 Much of Idaho's surface water flows out of the high mountains and is generally of high quality. People swim and fish in the center of Boise, the state's largest city, and water-based sports are enjoyed throughout the state. In addition, high-quality ground water is pumped extensively for agricultural, industrial, and residential use from the Snake River Plain aquifer across southern Idaho and from the Rathdrum Prairie aquifer in the  northern panhandle.

EDUCATION
 Idaho ranks In the top third among the 50 states for percentage of adults aged 25 and older who have graduated from high school (84.7 percent). Nearly 64 percent of the state's total general fund is allocated to education. Idaho's students score well above the national average on the SAT. Almost 94 percent of Idaho's school-age children attend public schools, demonstrating a high level of public confidence and encouraging a demographically balanced student population.
 Almost every city with a population over 20,000 has a college or universily. Off-campus programs are available at convenient locations throughout the state. Idaho's universities and colleges bring training, research, and technical assistance programs within reach of every person via computer, telecommunications, and video technology. University Place in Idaho Falls provides programs through the University of Idaho and Idaho State University.
 
 There are six professional-technical training centers in Idaho. These centers also provide training at business facilities off-campus. In addition to Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls, professional-technical programs are
 offered though Boise State University, Idaho State University, College of Southern Idaho, North Idaho College, and Lewis-Clark State College.

CRIME RATE
Idaho's crime rate is the lowest in the West. In fEct, according to FBI statistics, the rate of serious crime here is 21.3 percent less than the national average.

HOSPITALS
Idaho has 48 lIcensed hopitals. All but two Idaho communities with a population of more than 2,500 are within 13 miles of a hospital. The other two communities are within 16 miles of a hospital.

CULTURE
 Idaho's cultural actJvltles are as diverse as the state's geography. World-famous resorts host first-class musical performers, theatre, winter carnivals, and art shows. Idaho is home to a symphony orchestra, opera and ballet companies, chamber music groups, and a summer Shakespeare festival. But culture comes in many forms throughout the state: jazz and bluegrass music, big-name stars, nationally recognized music festivals, communily theatre, rodeos, county fairs, and professional sports.