Montana unemployment rate holds steady; 1,100 new jobs added statewide
Montana’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent in December, as the state added about 1,100 jobs.
The national unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points, to 3.9 percent, during that same time period.
“Montana’s economy remains strong heading into a new year,” Gov. Steve Bullock said in a statement that accompanied release of the December figures.
“But let us not forget that the hundreds of federal employees currently going without a paycheck due to the federal government shutdown will have impacts on our economy and unemployment in January,” he said. “Here in Montana, we will keep working together to get things done while we weather this weight on our economy and on the people of Montana.”
Unemployment rates are calculated using the employment status of a worker for the week of the 12th each month. Therefore, workers furloughed during the federal shutdown, which began on December 22, will be counted as unemployed in January.
Total employment of Montana workers, which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers, showed a sizeable increase in jobs during December. But the unemployment rate remained steady because of a corresponding increase in the labor force of 1,255 people.
Payroll employment indicated jobs gains of 300, with small changes across all industries, according to Friday’s report.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined in December because of a sharp decrease in gasoline prices. Gas prices decreased by 7.5 percent over the month. The index for all items less food and energy, also called core inflation, increased 0.2 percent in December.
The chart below shows the unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana’s56 counties. County unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.9 percent.
| Unemployment Rate | Employment | ||||
| Rank | County | Current Unemployment Rate | Change over Year | Current Employment | Job Change from Last Year |
| 1 | McCone | 2.0 | -0.3 | 959 | 9 |
| 2 | Carter | 2.1 | -0.7 | 688 | 25 |
| 3 | Fallon | 2.4 | -0.2 | 1,575 | -81 |
| 4 | Daniels | 2.5 | -0.5 | 879 | 11 |
| 5 | Gallatin | 2.7 | -0.3 | 64,429 | 1,986 |
| 5 | Liberty | 2.7 | 0.1 | 956 | 30 |
| 7 | Richland | 2.8 | -0.4 | 5,430 | -415 |
| 7 | Sweet Grass | 2.8 | -0.4 | 1,739 | 31 |
| 7 | Toole | 2.8 | -0.6 | 1,944 | -41 |
| 10 | Garfield | 2.9 | 0.1 | 768 | 37 |
| 10 | Powder River | 2.9 | -0.5 | 960 | 4 |
| 12 | Dawson | 3.0 | 0.2 | 4,388 | -103 |
| 13 | Sheridan | 3.1 | 0.2 | 1,736 | -54 |
| 14 | Custer | 3.3 | -0.2 | 5,805 | -143 |
| 14 | Treasure | 3.3 | -0.4 | 324 | 8 |
| 14 | Valley | 3.3 | 0.3 | 3,909 | -71 |
| 17 | Chouteau | 3.4 | 0.3 | 2,405 | 38 |
| 17 | Yellowstone | 3.4 | -0.2 | 78,575 | 278 |
| 19 | Lewis and Clark | 3.5 | -0.2 | 33,133 | -362 |
| 20 | Beaverhead | 3.6 | -0.1 | 4,844 | 89 |
| 20 | Hill | 3.6 | 0.0 | 7,680 | 50 |
| 20 | Prairie | 3.6 | -0.4 | 458 | 3 |
| 23 | Cascade | 3.7 | -0.2 | 36,541 | -43 |
| 23 | Deer Lodge | 3.7 | -0.6 | 4,806 | -48 |
| 23 | Madison | 3.7 | -0.7 | 4,533 | 135 |
| 23 | Missoula | 3.7 | -0.2 | 60,901 | 995 |
| 23 | Teton | 3.7 | -0.5 | 2,555 | -5 |
| 28 | Carbon | 3.8 | 0.1 | 5,187 | 47 |
| 29 | Meagher | 3.9 | -1.0 | 877 | 22 |
| 29 | Stillwater | 3.9 | -0.2 | 4,581 | -30 |
| 31 | Broadwater | 4.1 | -0.7 | 2,438 | 42 |
| 31 | Jefferson | 4.1 | -0.3 | 5,264 | -43 |
| 31 | Judith Basin | 4.1 | 0.2 | 892 | 7 |
| 31 | Musselshell | 4.1 | -1.0 | 2,186 | 5 |
| 35 | Fergus | 4.2 | -0.7 | 5,444 | 20 |
| 35 | Roosevelt | 4.2 | 0.1 | 4,357 | -37 |
| 35 | Silver Bow | 4.2 | -0.3 | 16,182 | -106 |
| 35 | Wibaux | 4.2 | 1.0 | 436 | -14 |
| 39 | Lake | 4.3 | -0.3 | 12,888 | 327 |
| 40 | Park | 4.4 | -0.7 | 8,212 | 226 |
| 40 | Phillips | 4.4 | -0.9 | 1,810 | 14 |
| 40 | Pondera | 4.4 | 0.4 | 2,594 | 4 |
| 40 | Powell | 4.4 | -0.3 | 2,674 | -27 |
| 44 | Blaine | 4.5 | -0.2 | 2,249 | 31 |
| 44 | Ravalli | 4.5 | -0.3 | 19,223 | 409 |
| 46 | Petroleum | 4.7 | -0.9 | 261 | 6 |
| 46 | Rosebud | 4.7 | -0.6 | 3,672 | -45 |
| 48 | Wheatland | 5.0 | -0.3 | 741 | 26 |
| 49 | Golden Valley | 5.1 | -1.3 | 357 | 6 |
| 50 | Flathead | 5.2 | -0.3 | 45,084 | 1,021 |
| 51 | Granite | 5.3 | -0.2 | 1,495 | 13 |
| 52 | Sanders | 6.3 | -1.1 | 4,473 | 117 |
| 53 | Glacier | 7.7 | 0.1 | 5,052 | -8 |
| 53 | Mineral | 7.7 | -1.8 | 1,421 | -12 |
| 55 | Big Horn | 7.8 | -3.5 | 4,742 | -74 |
| 56 | Lincoln | 8.0 | -0.7 | 7,069 | 85 |
The chart below shows 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 3.9percent. 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 | 4.6 | -0.3 | 12,593 | 317 |
| 2 | Fort Peck | 5.4 | 0.2 | 3,907 | -38 |
| 3 | Fort Belknap | 10.2 | -0.8 | 739 | 9 |
| 4 | Blackfeet | 10.7 | 0.1 | 3,580 | -5 |
| 5 | Rocky Boy's | 11.4 | 0.2 | 1,093 | 10 |
| 6 | Crow | 11.7 | -5.0 | 2,398 | -33 |
| 7 | Northern Cheyenne | 11.9 | -2.3 | 1,296 | -18 |