BOISE -- The number of Idahoans who lost their jobs in February is up -- nearly breaking records.
But the Idaho Department of Labor says despite that somber news there is a silver lining.
Bigger cities like Boise saw big losses and small towns are doing better.
Regardless, more people found jobs during the month of February than lost them.
The Labor Department feels this is a sign we may have hit rock bottom and the only place we can go from there is up.
"We are not creating a lot of jobs, and we are not losing them anymore," said Bob Fick, Idaho Department of Labor.
The number of jobless workers reached a record 71,600 in February, up 1,500 jobs from January. That brings the unemployment rate to 9.5 percent.
That number is a tenth of a point away from Idaho's unemployment record of 9.6 percent set in 1982.
In all, 2,400 people joined the labor force, which means they either found work or are looking now.
Here's where the Labor Department says there is good news. That number says more people believe there are jobs out there now than there were a year ago.
"That seems that people are being a little more optimist about finding a job. The problem is that the economy is not creating jobs fast enough to meet that demand, so the rate is going to continue to go up," said Fick.
And 26 of Idaho's counties saw an increase in their labor forces this past month. Much of that is seasonal work.
However, the largest counties, including Ada, Canyon, Kootenai, Bannock, Bonneville and Nez Perce all saw their unemployment numbers increase.
There are 71,000 unemployed Idahoans, and 52,000 of them are currently collecting unemployment.
