Forest activities, agriculture, and summer tourism play major
roles in Bonner County, so employment peaks in late summer and
falls throughout the winter. Employment falls to its lowest
level in spring, when muddy roads hinder loggers and winter
tourism draws to an end. In 2004, for example, the county's
unemployment rate peaked at 8.6% in March and fell to 4.8% in
August. Although Bonner County created hundreds of jobs, its
unemployment rate continually hovered above 8% from 1990 to
2003. The highly seasonal employment pattern and the loss of
high-paying lumber jobs caused some of the unemployment. Another
factor boosting unemployment is the tendency of population
growth to outstrip employment growth. Many new residents possess
good job skills, and are often willing to accept jobs for which
they are overqualified in order to remain in Bonner County. In
2004, exceptionally strong job growth pushed the unemployment
rate below 7% for the first time since 1989. Although the
unemployment rate has fallen, manufactu