Latest Unemployment Numbers In Montana Are Unbelievably Low

The latest unemployment numbers in Montana remained unbelievably low.

According to the governor's office, April's unemployment rate fell to 3.1%, and overall employment levels increased.

To put it in perspective, the national average unemployment rate is 3.9%.

According to a recent report from the governor's office, the labor force grew by nearly 1000 workers last month.

The state’s unemployment rate remained below 3.0% between November 2021 and October 2023.

Before Governor Gianforte took office, it fell below 3.0% in just three months in the last 50 years – January, February, and March 2007.

Payroll employment increased by 500 jobs last month, with gains strongest in the Professional Services sector.

Montana has averaged an increase of 1,000 payroll jobs each month for the first four months of 2024.

Montana County Unemployment Rates

The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana’s 56 counties are provided below. County unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 2.7% .

Unemployment Rate		Employment
Rank	County	Current Unemployment Rate	Change over Year	Current Employment	Job Change from Last Year
1	Powder River	1.6	-0.7	988	-60
2	Daniels	1.8	0.1	852	-42
3	Fallon	1.9	0.3	1628	-39
4	Liberty	2	0	1003	-47
4	Gallatin	2	0.1	80106	2203
6	Carter	2.1	0.5	685	-45
6	Prairie	2.1	-0.3	658	-27
8	Beaverhead	2.2	0.1	5056	-7
8	McCone	2.2	0.8	979	-51
8	Petroleum	2.2	-0.2	270	-16
11	Dawson	2.3	0	4212	-31
11	Deer Lodge	2.3	-0.3	5350	28
11	Lewis and Clark	2.3	0.1	38326	682
11	Sheridan	2.3	0	1717	4
11	Stillwater	2.3	0.3	5292	-68
11	Toole	2.3	0.8	2029	-79
11	Valley	2.3	0	3831	-79
18	Custer	2.4	-0.1	6214	69
18	Hill	2.4	0.3	7496	-15
18	Sweet Grass	2.4	0.4	1865	-13
21	Madison	2.5	0.3	4786	137
21	Yellowstone	2.5	0.3	86328	132
23	Chouteau	2.6	0.1	2459	-120
23	Garfield	2.6	0.1	758	-26
23	Richland	2.6	0.4	5394	-249
23	Treasure	2.6	-0.4	341	-17
23	Cascade	2.6	0.2	38757	350
28	Carbon	2.7	0.3	5758	-55
28	Jefferson	2.7	0.3	6048	68
28	Missoula	2.7	0.3	67544	203
31	Fergus	2.8	0.1	5757	-31
31	Ravalli	2.8	0.1	21778	459
31	Teton	2.8	0.3	2730	-122
31	Wibaux	2.8	0.2	410	-33
35	Meagher	2.9	0.3	995	-23
35	Rosebud	2.9	0.2	3531	30
37	Musselshell	3	0.5	2335	-3
37	Park	3	0	9813	383
39	Phillips	3.1	-0.9	1715	-75
39	Silver Bow	3.1	-0.1	17641	516
41	Judith Basin	3.2	0.4	959	-74
41	Pondera	3.2	1	2607	-66
43	Broadwater	3.3	0.1	2762	6
43	Powell	3.3	0.1	2773	-172
43	Flathead	3.3	0.1	52175	1678
46	Blaine	3.4	0.1	2124	-104
46	Lake	3.4	0.3	13928	318
48	Golden Valley	3.6	1.6	372	-13
48	Roosevelt	3.6	0.1	4130	-25
50	Wheatland	4	-0.3	738	-44
51	Big Horn	4.3	0.4	4281	-183
52	Granite	4.4	0.1	1597	-19
53	Glacier	4.8	-0.7	5292	133
54	Sanders	4.9	0.3	5323	6
55	Mineral	5.1	0.8	1738	-40
56	Lincoln	5.8	0.5	8264	24

Montana 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 2.7%. 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	County	Current Unemployment Rate	Change over Year	Current Employment	Job Change from Last Year
1	Flathead	3.7	0.4	13698	284
2	Fort Peck	4.5	0.1	3718	-27
3	Crow	6.5	0.6	2222	-84
4	Blackfeet	7	-0.6	3741	84
5	Northern Cheyenne	7.4	0.5	1219	-12
6	Fort Belknap	7.7	-0.3	698	-35
7	Rocky Boy's	8.2	0.6	1082	-17

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Gallery Credit: Scott Clow