Oregon Public Broadcasting

Idaho state labor officials say the economy continues to stabilize, even though the unemployment rate increased slightly in December. It's now at 9.2 percent.

This week, Idaho's chief economist told state legislators he believes the worst of the economic trouble is over.

Bob Uhlenkott from the Idaho Department of Labor echoes that.

Bob Uhlenkott: “We're starting to get some signs that the road to recovery is close. We believe it's going to be a slow climb. My thought is, I don't believe we're going to get in this double dip that a lot of folks have talked about, that happened in the early eighties.”

Uhlenkott says Idaho's unemployment rate may continue to inch higher for the next few months. But he believes that's because people who have given up looking for work will re-enter the job market.

Almost half of Idaho's 44 counties are suffering from double-digit unemployment.