Unemployment Rate Improves For County

Roosevelt County’s economy is now improving, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

At the end of August, the county sat in a tie for 49th place for unemployment rates in Montana with a rate of 4.4 percent.

Now, for the end of October, the county has moved up to a tie for 35th place at 3.4 percent. Other counties at 3.4 percent are Blaine, Judith Basin, Petroleum, Pondera, Powell, Toole, Silver Bow and Flathead.

Roosevelt County has a total of 4,150 employed individuals, which is an increase of 108 from a year ago.

Fallon County has the lowest unemployment rate at 1.6 percent. Tied for second at 2.2 are Daniels, McCone and Gallatin counties.

Gallatin has a current employment figure of 82,687, which is a 3,639 gain from last year at this time.

Valley County has an unemployment rate of 2.3 which is tied for fifth place with Meagher, Powder River, Prairie and Sweet Grass. Valley County has a total of 3,910 employed people in the county.

Lewis and Clark County has enjoyed an increase of 800 employed individuals for a total of 38,517.

Other eastern Montana counties include Garfield and Sheridan tied for 10th place at 2.4, Richland in 22nd place at 2.9, Dawson in 26th place at 3.0 and Phillips in 33rd place at 3.3, The five counties with the highest unemployment in the state are Mineral at 5.4, Lincoln at 4.7, Golden Valley at 4.5, Sanders at 4.4 and Big Horn at 4.4.

Montana’s unemployment was 3.3 percent in September. The national rate stands at 4.1 percent.

Montana’s labor force reached a record high of 580,000 people in 2023, with more than 10,000 Montanans entering the labor force last year alone. Total employment remained mostly unchanged in September with approximately 1,100 people entering the labor market.