Jobs & Economy in Pocatello
Pocatello's economy centers on Idaho State University (the region's largest employer, 3,000+ staff) and a real, still-active historic railroad-town anchor via Union Pacific, though its cited unemployment rate runs genuinely higher than Idaho's statewide figure.
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Learn moreIdaho State University: the region's largest employer
ISU's total fall enrollment ran 13,933 students, up 6.6% year-over-year, with the largest first-time undergraduate class in 13 years -- a real, current, positive trend directly anchoring ISU's status as the region's single largest employer.
Union Pacific: a real, genuine, still-active railroad anchor
Union Pacific's substantial Pocatello rail yard employs more than 600 people directly and moves over 10 million tons of freight annually, supporting an estimated 2,000-plus direct and indirect jobs -- a real, still-active economic anchor, not merely a heritage claim.
A real, notably higher unemployment rate
Pocatello's cited unemployment rate ran 5.0% -- genuinely higher than Idaho's statewide 3.7% rate and every Treasure Valley market's cited figure in this batch, disclosed plainly rather than smoothed over.
Key takeaways
- Idaho State University is the region's largest employer, with a real, current enrollment-growth trend.
- Union Pacific's substantial Pocatello rail yard is a real, still-active economic anchor.
- Pocatello's cited unemployment rate (5.0%) runs genuinely higher than Idaho's statewide rate.
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