MONTANA – Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 3.4% in November, as both total employment and the labor force grew. The U.S. unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage points, to 3.5%.
“As this decade comes to an end, Montanans can be proud of the economic expansion they have powered. Over the last 10 years, Montana has added 53,000 jobs and recorded the sixth fastest wage growth in the nation," Governor Bullock said. "As we enter 2020, Montana’s businesses and workers can look forward to future growth and a continued commitment to building a strong workforce."
Total employment, which includes agricultural, payroll and self-employed workers, grew by 1,200 jobs in November with similar growth in the labor force of 1,466 workers. Payroll employment also had a large increase of 1,800 jobs over the month, with much of the job growth coming in the arts and recreation industry and the construction industry.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3% in November, with increases in shelter and energy indexes. The index for all items less food and energy, also called core inflation, rose by 0.2%. Core inflation rose 2.3% over the last twelve months.
** 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 0.5 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 December 2019 will be released on Friday, January 24, 2020.
**** 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.
****** 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 3.4%.
|
Rank |
County |
Current Unemployment Rate |
Change over Year |
Current Employment |
Job Change from Last Year |
|
1 |
Carter |
1.9 |
-0.2 |
705 |
-3 |
|
2 |
McCone |
2.0 |
0.0 |
968 |
-16 |
|
3 |
Daniels |
2.2 |
0.0 |
872 |
-7 |
|
4 |
Fallon |
2.3 |
0.5 |
1,641 |
-43 |
|
4 |
Sheridan |
2.3 |
0.3 |
1,700 |
-48 |
|
6 |
Chouteau |
2.4 |
-0.8 |
2,535 |
25 |
|
7 |
Dawson |
2.5 |
0.1 |
4,547 |
9 |
|
7 |
Garfield |
2.5 |
-0.1 |
732 |
-6 |
|
7 |
Powder River |
2.5 |
-0.1 |
938 |
-23 |
|
7 |
Treasure |
2.5 |
-0.6 |
352 |
4 |
|
11 |
Richland |
2.6 |
-0.1 |
5,642 |
-147 |
|
12 |
Custer |
2.7 |
0.2 |
5,872 |
-14 |
|
12 |
Gallatin |
2.7 |
-0.2 |
67,427 |
2,990 |
|
12 |
Judith Basin |
2.7 |
-0.2 |
976 |
-11 |
|
12 |
Sweet Grass |
2.7 |
0.1 |
1,745 |
8 |
|
16 |
Lewis and Clark |
2.8 |
-0.3 |
35,086 |
552 |
|
16 |
Liberty |
2.8 |
0.4 |
993 |
5 |
|
18 |
Deer Lodge |
2.9 |
-0.5 |
4,940 |
31 |
|
19 |
Beaverhead |
3.0 |
-0.2 |
5,016 |
68 |
|
19 |
Pondera |
3.0 |
-0.9 |
2,613 |
-25 |
|
19 |
Stillwater |
3.0 |
-0.1 |
4,971 |
117 |
|
19 |
Toole |
3.0 |
0.8 |
2,038 |
-16 |
|
19 |
Yellowstone |
3.0 |
-0.2 |
78,982 |
1,065 |
|
24 |
Fergus |
3.1 |
-0.2 |
5,681 |
85 |
|
24 |
Meagher |
3.1 |
-0.8 |
979 |
30 |
|
24 |
Missoula |
3.1 |
-0.1 |
62,962 |
1,682 |
|
24 |
Prairie |
3.1 |
0.1 |
494 |
4 |
|
28 |
Cascade |
3.2 |
-0.2 |
37,029 |
483 |
|
28 |
Teton |
3.2 |
-0.1 |
2,680 |
-10 |
|
28 |
Wibaux |
3.2 |
-0.7 |
430 |
-15 |
|
31 |
Jefferson |
3.3 |
-0.3 |
5,550 |
78 |
|
32 |
Carbon |
3.4 |
-0.2 |
5,349 |
61 |
|
32 |
Phillips |
3.4 |
0.1 |
1,923 |
18 |
|
32 |
Valley |
3.4 |
0.3 |
3,974 |
-48 |
|
35 |
Hill |
3.6 |
0.1 |
7,401 |
14 |
|
35 |
Park |
3.6 |
-0.9 |
8,712 |
325 |
|
35 |
Ravalli |
3.6 |
-0.3 |
19,711 |
505 |
|
35 |
Wheatland |
3.6 |
-1.6 |
778 |
6 |
|
39 |
Powell |
3.7 |
-0.1 |
2,821 |
17 |
|
39 |
Roosevelt |
3.7 |
0.0 |
4,308 |
1 |
|
39 |
Silver Bow |
3.7 |
-0.1 |
16,801 |
245 |
|
42 |
Blaine |
3.8 |
0.0 |
2,247 |
-8 |
|
42 |
Broadwater |
3.8 |
-0.2 |
2,623 |
86 |
|
42 |
Petroleum |
3.8 |
-0.9 |
276 |
-5 |
|
45 |
Lake |
4.0 |
-0.1 |
12,856 |
306 |
|
46 |
Musselshell |
4.2 |
0.7 |
2,117 |
-14 |
|
47 |
Golden Valley |
4.3 |
-0.2 |
359 |
1 |
|
48 |
Madison |
4.4 |
-0.2 |
4,044 |
94 |
|
49 |
Rosebud |
4.5 |
0.2 |
3,702 |
-27 |
|
50 |
Flathead |
4.6 |
-0.2 |
46,415 |
1,622 |
|
51 |
Sanders |
4.8 |
-1.1 |
4,665 |
117 |
|
52 |
Mineral |
5.2 |
-1.1 |
1,648 |
54 |
|
53 |
Granite |
5.8 |
1.0 |
1,567 |
53 |
|
54 |
Big Horn |
6.7 |
-2.0 |
4,507 |
-145 |
|
55 |
Lincoln |
6.9 |
0.4 |
7,777 |
257 |
|
56 |
Glacier |
7.3 |
0.0 |
5,158 |
28 |
****** 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 3.4%. Reservation areas overlap with county areas, meaning that unemployed individuals living on a reservation will be included in both the reservation and county totals.
|
Rank |
County |
Current Unemployment Rate |
Change over Year |
Current Employment |
Job Change from Last Year |
|
1 |
Flathead |
4.2 |
-0.2 |
12,610 |
302 |
|
2 |
Fort Peck |
4.8 |
0.0 |
3,873 |
-6 |
|
3 |
Fort Belknap |
8.6 |
0.0 |
741 |
-2 |
|
4 |
Blackfeet |
10.0 |
-0.2 |
3,652 |
17 |
|
5 |
Crow |
10.1 |
-2.8 |
2,294 |
-64 |
|
6 |
Rocky Boy's |
10.3 |
-0.7 |
1,083 |
5 |
|
7 |
Northern Cheyenne |
11.3 |
-0.2 |
1,280 |
-21 |
