Pocatello, Idaho Metro Area Lost 100 Jobs in January 2026, Federal Data Shows
BLS Report Shows January Decline Following December Rebound in Southeast Idaho
The Pocatello, Idaho metro area shed 100 jobs in January 2026, according to the latest state and local employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — a swing that reversed a gain of 100 jobs recorded in December 2025. The data offers a sobering early look at 2026 employment conditions in one of Southeast Idaho’s primary economic centers.
The January figure represents a month-to-month change in nonfarm employment and reflects preliminary data that the BLS often revises as more complete information becomes available. Still, the report places Pocatello’s January 2026 performance as the 12th-lowest month for job growth over the most recent five-year tracking period, which runs from February 2021 through January 2026.
Over that 60-month span, the Pocatello metro area added jobs in only 29 of 60 months — meaning the region posted net job losses in the majority of months during that period. The five-year average works out to approximately 58 new jobs per month, a baseline against which January’s loss stands in notable contrast.
2026 Trending Below Recent Annual Averages
The January 2026 decline is not an isolated data point. Based on available 2026 figures, the Pocatello area has averaged a loss of 67 jobs per month so far this year — a steeper rate of decline than in 2025, when the area averaged a monthly loss of 17 jobs. The 2026 pace currently ranks as the fourth-worst annual average for job growth in the region since 2020, according to BLS data.
When pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021 are excluded from broader historical context, monthly job growth in the Pocatello area has ranged from a loss of 2,200 jobs per month — recorded during 2009, at the depth of the national recession — to a gain of 1,300 jobs per month in 2023. That 2023 performance represented one of the stronger stretches for the local labor market in recent memory, making the current trend a meaningful shift in the wrong direction for Bannock County workers and employers.
The most recent five-year period did include notable high-water marks. The strongest single-month performance came in June 2024, when the Pocatello area added 800 jobs. The weakest month during that same period was July 2024, which saw a loss of 700 jobs — illustrating how sharply conditions can swing from one month to the next in a regional economy of Pocatello’s size.
Local economic observers have noted that smaller metro areas like Pocatello are particularly susceptible to month-to-month volatility, as the addition or reduction of a single large employer’s workforce can have an outsized effect on the overall numbers. The Pocatello metro economy draws from a diverse mix of healthcare, education, manufacturing, and government sectors, each of which can respond differently to seasonal demand and broader economic pressures.
As Bannock County businesses navigate a challenging early-2026 environment, some signs of private-sector activity remain encouraging. The community recently welcomed SME Industries’ new facility at a luncheon event, signaling continued interest from manufacturers in the Pocatello area as a place to grow and invest — a development that could contribute positively to future employment figures.
For a broader view of Idaho’s statewide workforce trends and economic conditions, readers can follow ongoing coverage at Idaho News.
What Comes Next
The BLS typically revises monthly employment figures in subsequent reports as additional payroll data is collected from employers. The next update to the Pocatello metro employment picture will provide a clearer view of whether January’s 100-job loss represents a temporary correction or the continuation of a broader softening in the local labor market. Bannock County residents, employers, and local officials will be watching closely as 2026 employment data continues to develop.