FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 21, 2015
CONTACT: Mike Wessler, Governor’s Office, 444-9725
Jake Troyer, Communications Director, Department of Labor & Industry, 444-1674
Barbara Wagner, Chief Economist, Department of Labor & Industry, 444-5474
Montana’s Unemployment Rate at 4.0 Percent in July
HELENA – Montana’s unemployment rate rose slightly in July to 4.0 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage points. Overall, Montana’s unemployment rate has fallen 0.6 percentage points in the past year. The U.S. unemployment rate held steady at 5.3 percent.
“With strong job growth, and more people on the job than ever before, Montana’s economy continues to lead the nation,” Governor Steve Bullock said. “We’ll continue to work to make sure workers have access to training opportunities that equip them with the skills to meet the demands of Montana employers.”
“With the unemployment rate around four percent, workers should expect to see wages grow” said Labor Commissioner, Pam Bucy. “The Montana Department of Labor & Industry, through your community Job Service office and workforce development programs, is working hard to ensure that job seekers have the tools they need to take advantage of the many work opportunities provided by employers across the state.”
Total employment sits at 503,841 in Montana after July’s change. Overall, 11,311 jobs have been added in the past twelve months. Total employment estimates include payroll employment, plus agricultural and self-employed workers. Payroll employment added 700 jobs in July, and has now increased by 2,600 jobs since the beginning of the year. Total and payroll employment’s over-the-month changes were within the margin of error, signifying little change to employment levels.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in July on a seasonally adjusted basis, with advances in the indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food. The index for all items less food and energy (also called core inflation) also rose 0.1 percent, mostly because of increases in housing costs.
###
** Statewide 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 nonseasonal 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 and Industry’s Research and Analysis Bureau at 1-800-541-3904.
The next Labor Situation Report for the month of August 2015 will be released on Friday, September 18, 2015.
****** 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. This month’s Economy at a Glance provides information on Montana’s labor demand in the health care industry.
****** 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 3.8 percent.
| |
|
Unemployment Rate
|
Employment
|
|
Rank
|
County
|
Current Unemployment
Rate
|
Change over Year
|
Current Employment
|
Job Change from Last Year
|
|
1
|
Fallon County
|
1.8
|
-0.1
|
2,191
|
40
|
|
2
|
McCone County
|
1.9
|
0.1
|
1,161
|
-3
|
|
3
|
Powder River County
|
2.2
|
-0.5
|
1,131
|
32
|
|
3
|
Sheridan County
|
2.2
|
0.0
|
2,181
|
17
|
|
5
|
Daniels County
|
2.3
|
-0.6
|
947
|
-30
|
|
5
|
Garfield County
|
2.3
|
-0.1
|
762
|
-22
|
|
7
|
Liberty County
|
2.4
|
-0.3
|
1,022
|
-12
|
|
8
|
Gallatin County
|
2.5
|
-0.4
|
61,267
|
2,518
|
|
8
|
Sweet Grass County
|
2.5
|
-0.6
|
1,891
|
9
|
|
10
|
Richland County
|
2.7
|
0.4
|
7,674
|
367
|
|
11
|
Chouteau County
|
2.8
|
-0.3
|
2,615
|
-32
|
|
12
|
Madison County
|
2.9
|
-0.9
|
4,337
|
89
|
|
12
|
Valley County
|
2.9
|
0.2
|
4,596
|
78
|
|
14
|
Custer County
|
3.0
|
0.0
|
6,488
|
51
|
|
15
|
Dawson County
|
3.1
|
0.5
|
5,005
|
116
|
|
16
|
Carbon County
|
3.2
|
-0.5
|
5,510
|
189
|
|
16
|
Judith Basin County
|
3.2
|
-0.7
|
959
|
-16
|
|
16
|
Lewis and Clark County
|
3.2
|
-0.3
|
35,627
|
614
|
|
16
|
Stillwater County
|
3.2
|
-0.3
|
5,023
|
93
|
|
16
|
Toole County
|
3.2
|
0.7
|
2,418
|
-6
|
|
16
|
Wibaux County
|
3.2
|
0.1
|
568
|
12
|
|
16
|
Yellowstone County
|
3.2
|
-0.5
|
80,546
|
3,283
|
|
23
|
Beaverhead County
|
3.3
|
0.0
|
4,897
|
-77
|
|
23
|
Golden Valley County
|
3.3
|
-0.8
|
408
|
9
|
|
25
|
Fergus County
|
3.4
|
0.0
|
5,699
|
-42
|
|
26
|
Carter County
|
3.5
|
1.0
|
694
|
-36
|
|
26
|
Deer Lodge County
|
3.5
|
-0.6
|
5,314
|
114
|
|
26
|
Meagher County
|
3.5
|
-0.2
|
944
|
-14
|
|
29
|
Jefferson County
|
3.6
|
-0.5
|
5,689
|
85
|
|
30
|
Missoula County
|
3.7
|
-0.4
|
58,327
|
1,198
|
|
30
|
Teton County
|
3.7
|
0.6
|
2,915
|
-7
|
|
32
|
Park County
|
3.8
|
-0.4
|
8,556
|
123
|
|
33
|
Musselshell County
|
3.9
|
-0.1
|
2,366
|
57
|
|
33
|
Powell County
|
3.9
|
-0.3
|
2,942
|
28
|
|
35
|
Cascade County
|
4.0
|
0.0
|
36,639
|
-45
|
|
36
|
Petroleum County
|
4.1
|
0.9
|
307
|
2
|
|
36
|
Prairie County
|
4.1
|
-0.1
|
519
|
-6
|
|
38
|
Phillips County
|
4.2
|
-0.6
|
1,946
|
-26
|
|
38
|
Silver Bow County
|
4.2
|
-0.4
|
16,667
|
-36
|
|
40
|
Broadwater County
|
4.4
|
0.0
|
2,529
|
34
|
|
41
|
Blaine County
|
4.7
|
-1.1
|
2,281
|
-58
|
|
41
|
Flathead County
|
4.7
|
-0.4
|
44,664
|
404
|
|
41
|
Hill County
|
4.7
|
-1.0
|
7,439
|
-62
|
|
44
|
Ravalli County
|
4.8
|
-0.6
|
18,370
|
408
|
|
45
|
Granite County
|
5.0
|
-0.9
|
1,584
|
76
|
|
45
|
Lake County
|
5.0
|
-0.4
|
12,352
|
25
|
|
47
|
Treasure County
|
5.1
|
1.9
|
352
|
-8
|
|
48
|
Roosevelt County
|
5.2
|
-0.1
|
4,704
|
48
|
|
49
|
Pondera County
|
5.3
|
0.3
|
2,763
|
-21
|
|
49
|
Wheatland County
|
5.3
|
1.4
|
790
|
-18
|
|
51
|
Rosebud County
|
5.8
|
-0.2
|
3,877
|
-42
|
|
52
|
Big Horn County
|
6.5
|
-2.7
|
5,311
|
62
|
|
53
|
Mineral County
|
6.9
|
-0.8
|
1,694
|
8
|
|
54
|
Sanders County
|
7.2
|
-0.8
|
4,366
|
1
|
|
55
|
Lincoln County
|
8.5
|
-0.7
|
7,530
|
58
|
|
56
|
Glacier County
|
9.1
|
-0.8
|
5,710
|
3
|
****** RESERVATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ******
The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana’s seven reservations is provided below for your convenience. Reservation unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.8 percent. 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
|
Reservation
|
Current Unemployment
|
Change over Year
|
Current Employment
|
Job Change from Last Year
|
|
Rate
|
|
1
|
Flathead Reservation
|
5.3
|
-0.4
|
12,089
|
30
|
|
2
|
Fort Peck Reservation
|
6.3
|
-0.1
|
4,264
|
46
|
|
3
|
Crow Reservation
|
10.0
|
-3.8
|
2,658
|
37
|
|
4
|
Fort Belknap Reservation
|
10.5
|
-2.0
|
752
|
-19
|
|
5
|
Blackfeet Reservation
|
12.7
|
-0.9
|
4,031
|
0
|
|
6
|
Rocky Boy Reservation
|
12.8
|
-2.1
|
1,097
|
-10
|
|
7
|
Northern Cheyenne Reservation
|
13.4
|
-1.1
|
1,400
|
-2
|