Small Businesses Drive Idaho’s Workforce: By the Numbers in Kootenai County and Beyond
Small businesses are the backbone of Idaho’s economy, accounting for the overwhelming majority of all employers across the state — including in Kootenai County and the broader North Idaho Panhandle region. According to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Idaho is home to 183,972 small businesses, representing 99.2% of all businesses statewide — a testament to the free enterprise culture that defines the Gem State.
Idaho Small Business Numbers Paint a Strong Picture
The scale of small business activity in Idaho goes far beyond a simple count. Those 183,972 businesses collectively employ 347,193 workers — roughly 56.3% of Idaho’s entire workforce. That means more than half of all working Idahoans owe their livelihoods to a small business, not a large corporation or government agency.
The growth trend reinforces the state’s entrepreneurial momentum. Between March 2020 and March 2021 — a period marked by significant economic disruption nationwide — Idaho saw 10,143 new businesses open while only 5,944 closed, producing a net increase of 4,199 new businesses. Across all businesses during that same period, the total number of jobs increased by 16,907. Notably, small businesses alone accounted for a net gain of 16,910 jobs — effectively driving all of the state’s job growth during that stretch.
For comparison with broader statewide economic trends, Idaho News tracks business development and workforce data from across the state.
Top Employers Across Kootenai County and the North Idaho Panhandle
In Kootenai County, the region’s largest employers include Kootenai Health (formerly Kootenai Medical Center), Hagadone Hospitality, Silverwood Theme Park, and the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls school districts. These institutions anchor thousands of local jobs and represent a cross-section of health care, tourism, hospitality, and public education.
In Bonner County, top employers include the Lake Pend Oreille and West Bonner County school districts, Bonner General Health, Litehouse, and Super 1 Foods. To the north in Boundary County, leading employers include the Boundary County School District, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Boundary Community Hospital, Idaho Forest Group, and Alta Forest Products — reflecting the county’s deep roots in natural resources and timber.
In Shoshone County, the top employers include Hecla Mining, Dave Smith Motors, U.S. Silver Corp., and the Kellogg and Wallace school districts — a mix that underscores the Silver Valley’s historic and ongoing ties to the mining industry.
Industries Fueling North Idaho’s Economy
The dominant industries vary by county across the region. In some areas, health care and social assistance rank highest in unique job postings. In others, retail trade and accommodation and food services lead the way. Additional high-demand sectors include administrative and support services, manufacturing, professional, scientific and technical services, wholesale trade, finance and insurance, construction, and information.
In Bonner and Kootenai counties, retail trade, construction, health care, accommodation and food services, and professional services account for a majority of businesses. In smaller counties like Boundary, Benewah, and Shoshone, Census data points to a higher share of nonemployer businesses and microbusinesses — particularly in construction and forestry-related services — reflecting the rural, resource-driven character of those communities.
As Idaho’s economy continues to grow and attract new residents, the state’s broader fiscal policy decisions will shape how that growth unfolds. Earlier this month, the governor signed legislation tying Medicaid expansion to new work requirements — a policy shift that could affect both workers and employers across the region.
What Comes Next for North Idaho’s Small Business Community
The full dataset — including ranked lists of the top employers in Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, and Shoshone counties — is available through the 2025 Book of Lists, published online at cdapress.com, bonnercountydailybee.com, shoshonenewspress.com, and bonnersferryherald.com.
For residents and business owners in the Coeur d’Alene area and across the North Idaho Panhandle, the data confirms what most locals already know: small businesses are not just part of the economy here — they are the economy. With a workforce majority employed by small employers, the health of North Idaho’s communities depends directly on the ability of its entrepreneurs to operate, grow, and hire without excessive regulatory burden or government interference.