Idaho’s economy continued slowing in April as the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up a tenth to 3.1 percent from March, and for the first time in 5½ years fewer people were working across the state than a year earlier.

Continued sluggishness in construction and a ninth straight month of declining employment in manufacturing contributed to nearly 800 more people looking for work, raising the ranks of the unemployed to just over 23,000 in April – 2,500 more people off the job than a year ago.

At the same time, total employment was down 3,800 from March and over 1,400 from April 2007. The last time monthly employment came in below the previous year’s level was September 2002 in the aftermath of the national recession.

April’s rate was the highest unemployment rate Idaho has experienced since August 2006. Still, the rate was 1.9 percentage points below the national rate of 5 percent and the 79th month that Idaho’s rate has been below the national rate.

Nez Perce County reported 2.7 percent unemployment; Idaho County 4.9 percent; Clearwater County 9 percent; and Lewis County 2.8 percent. The city of Lewiston had 2.5 percent unemployment – the third lowest rate among Idaho’s nine largest cities.