Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana's unemployment rate decreased by 0.1% in July to 3.6%, while the unemployment rate for the U.S. was 5.4% for the month. The labor force also had strong growth over the month.
"Montana continues to attract workers back into our labor force, helping to alleviate pressure on employers who are looking to hire," Governor Greg Gianforte said. "This report is good news for Montana businesses in the midst of the summer travel season and good news for workers who are enjoying higher wages as our economy makes a comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic."
Montana's total employment, which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers, grew by 2,162 in July, with strong growth in the labor force of 1,999 workers. Payroll jobs increased by 3,300 jobs in July. Accommodation and food services had strong growth with 2,900 jobs added.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.5% over the month in July. The 12-month increase was 5.4%, similar to the 12-month increase last month and signaling a moderation in inflationary pressure. Prices of used cars and trucks and energy commodities remain high compared to 12 months prior. The index for all items less food and energy, referred to as core inflation, increased 0.3% in July, with the 12-month increase lowering to 4.3% from 4.5% last month.
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** Unemployment figures are seasonally-adjusted. Seasonally-adjusted numbers remove the effects of events that follow a more or less regular month-to-month pattern each year. These adjustments make non-seasonal patterns easier to identify. The margin of error for the unemployment rate is plus or minus 0.6 percentage points at the 90 percent confidence level. All questions relating to the calculation of unemployment rates should be directed to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry's Research and Analysis Bureau at 406-444-4100.
The next Labor Situation Report for the month of August will be released on Friday, September 17th.
**** INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET ****
Visit our website at www.lmi.mt.gov for additional information and analysis, including industry employment levels, background on the unemployment rate, and wage rates by occupation. Visit www.lmi.mt.gov/home/job-tracking for Montana unemployment claims and economic data on the current recession.
****** COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ******
The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana's 56 counties is provided below for your convenience. County unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.2%.
Unemployment Rate
Employment
Rank
County
Current Unemployment Rate
Change over Year
Current Employment
Job Change from Last Year
1
McCone
2
-2.2
902
32
2
Meagher
2
-2.7
947
32
3
Daniels
2.1
-0.8
849
0
4
Powell
2.1
-2.1
2946
11
5
Sweet Grass
2.2
-1.5
1876
58
6
Gallatin
2.2
-2.9
72841
2852
7
Powder River
2.3
-0.7
885
-15
8
Beaverhead
2.4
-1.7
4967
134
9
Chouteau
2.4
-1.8
2228
30
10
Fallon
2.4
-3.2
1518
-5
11
Liberty
2.5
-0.5
899
22
12
Toole
2.5
-3.6
2027
-33
13
Garfield
2.6
0.2
648
-10
14
Custer
2.8
-2.7
6131
105
15
Lewis and Clark
2.8
-2.5
36961
942
16
Stillwater
2.8
-3.1
5335
305
17
Dawson
2.9
-4.7
4312
-192
18
Fergus
2.9
-1.2
5627
-110
19
Madison
2.9
-1.9
4176
-107
20
Petroleum
2.9
-0.4
238
0
21
Carter
3
-0.6
553
-7
22
Valley
3
-1.3
4008
28
23
Jefferson
3.1
-2.4
5799
138
24
Park
3.1
-4.2
9137
414
25
Sheridan
3.1
-2.6
1624
3
26
Teton
3.1
-1.4
2586
44
27
Missoula
3.1
-3.7
62355
2160
28
Deer Lodge
3.2
-2.1
5120
199
29
Ravalli
3.2
-2.6
20696
1096
30
Yellowstone
3.2
-2.8
81152
249
31
Cascade
3.2
-3.4
36074
656
32
Carbon
3.3
-2.7
5345
42
33
Judith Basin
3.3
-2
814
0
34
Broadwater
3.4
-3.1
2610
120
35
Wibaux
3.4
-2.6
425
-13
36
Flathead
3.4
-3.9
51517
3183
37
Hill
3.5
-2.5
7201
-25
38
Pondera
3.5
-2.3
2459
22
39
Silver Bow
3.5
-3.5
17179
496
40
Golden Valley
3.6
-0.3
344
2
41
Phillips
3.6
-1.6
1690
-29
42
Prairie
3.7
-5.1
447
23
43
Treasure
3.7
-0.9
312
20
44
Blaine
3.8
-1.7
2030
2
45
Granite
3.8
-2.8
1533
28
46
Lake
3.8
-3.3
13467
595
47
Musselshell
3.8
-2.6
2193
36
48
Sanders
4
-3.4
4982
220
49
Richland
4.2
-4.7
5560
115
50
Mineral
4.6
-4.2
1806
80
51
Rosebud
4.6
-1.6
3317
-115
52
Roosevelt
4.8
-2.8
4066
56
53
Wheatland
5.1
-2.9
655
10
54
Lincoln
5.2
-4.2
7775
307
55
Glacier
8
-3.6
4929
74
56
Big Horn
8.3
0.7
4248
-174
****** RESERVATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ******
The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana's seven reservations is provided below. Reservation unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.2%. Reservation areas overlap with county areas, meaning that unemployed individuals living on a reservation will be included in both the reservation and county totals.
Unemployment Rate
Employment
Rank
Area
Current Unemployment Rate
Change over Year
Current Employment
Job Change from Last Year
1
Flathead
4
-3.4
13199
580
2
Fort Peck
6
-3.3
3680
47
3
Fort Belknap
8.9
-3.4
669
1
4
Rocky Boy's
10.1
-6.5
1022
2
5
Blackfeet
10.9
-5
3487
52
6
Northern Cheyenne
11.8
-2.6
1168
-43
7
Crow
12.2
0.7
2188
-80