Unemployment Continues Low in Montana
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced last week that Montana continued its historic stretch of unemployment with the rate remaining at or below 3.4 percent for 41 consecutive months.
“I ran for governor for two reasons: to create more good-paying jobs and to protect Montana’s way of life,” Gianforte said. “It’s clear we’re doing both. The American dream is alive and well in Montana — with our pro-jobs, pro-family policies, we remain the last best place for opportunity in the United States.”
The state’s historic stretch of low unemployment continues to break records. The next closest stretch was during 2006 and 2007, when the state’s unemployment rate remained at or below 3.4 percent for 15 months.
Roosevelt County has an unemployment rate of 3.0 percent, which is tied with Blaine and Phillips County for 41st place.
Counties with the lowest unemployment are Fallon at 1.3, Prairie at 1.5, Carter at 1.7, Powder River at 1.8, Hill at 1.9 and Sheridan at 1.9.
Counties with the highest unemployment rate are Mineral at 5.9, Madison at 5.1, Lincoln at 5, Glacier at 4.7 and Sanders at 4.5.
Richland County, Valley County, Custer County and Daniel County have unemployment rates of 2.1, which are tied for ninth lowest. Dawson County ranks 16th at 2.2 percent and McCone is 23rd at 2.4 percent.
Fort Peck ranks second lowest for reservations with 3.8 percent, behind only Flathead at 3.3 percent. Fort Belknap is highest at 7 percent.
The unemployment rate fell with the total number of payroll jobs increasing by 900 jobs, led by gains in the accommodation and food services industry. Since the start of the year, Montana has added 12,000 jobs. November marked the fifth consecutive month that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased. The all-items index rose 2.7 percent for the 12 months ending in November. Core inflation, or the index for allitems less food and energy, rose 0.3 percent in November for a 12-month increase of 3.3 percent. The indexes for shelter rose 0.3 percent in November, accounting for 40 percent of the increase in the monthly all-items index.
