Helena, Mont.—Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent in October with no change over the month. The U.S. unemployment rate declined slightly by one-tenth of a percent over the month to 5.0 percent in October.
“Montana’s economy continued to show strength as we entered the fall,” Governor Steve Bullock said. “With over 10,000 jobs added over the last twelve months, Montanans are on the job and earning higher wages.”
“Montana’s unemployment rate is holding steady at just over four percent, which is considered an ideal level for unemployment,” said Labor & Industry Commissioner Pam Bucy. “The Montana Department of Labor & Industry continues to create innovative partnerships with businesses and educational organizations to recruit and train more workers for our growing worker demand.”
Both total employment and payroll employment levels showed little change over the month. Payroll employment indicated 700 jobs gained over the month, with a few job losses in mining and strong gains in construction. Total employment estimates, which include agricultural and self-employed workers along with payroll workers, indicate a statistically insignificant gain of 102 jobs. Employment growth during 2015 remains quite strong, with a 2.1 percent increase in employment over the last year compared to the long-term average of about 1 percent.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in October, marking the end of a two-month price slide. Both food and energy indexes increased slightly. The index for all items less food and energy (also called core inflation) rose 0.2 percent in September.
###
** 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 November 2015 will be released on Friday, December 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 worker shortages in the occupations that require licensing in Montana.
****** 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 3.7 percent.
|
Unemployment Rate
|
Employment
|
Rank
|
County
|
Current Unemployment Rate
|
Change over Year
|
Current Employment
|
Job Change from Last Year
|
1
|
McCone County
|
1.7
|
-0.5
|
1,084
|
-49
|
2
|
Fallon County
|
2.1
|
0.5
|
2,098
|
4
|
2
|
Sheridan County
|
2.1
|
-0.1
|
2,023
|
8
|
4
|
Liberty County
|
2.3
|
-0.1
|
940
|
-66
|
5
|
Powder River County
|
2.5
|
0.2
|
1,029
|
-41
|
6
|
Sweet Grass County
|
2.6
|
-0.7
|
1,775
|
-8
|
6
|
Valley County
|
2.6
|
0.2
|
4,375
|
112
|
8
|
Chouteau County
|
2.7
|
-0.2
|
2,504
|
-111
|
8
|
Garfield County
|
2.7
|
0.5
|
696
|
-63
|
8
|
Richland County
|
2.7
|
0.6
|
7,585
|
303
|
11
|
Custer County
|
2.8
|
0.1
|
6,378
|
43
|
11
|
Daniels County
|
2.8
|
-0.6
|
900
|
-32
|
11
|
Judith Basin County
|
2.8
|
-0.9
|
933
|
-43
|
11
|
Lewis and Clark County
|
2.8
|
-0.4
|
34,792
|
699
|
15
|
Gallatin County
|
2.9
|
-0.5
|
58,098
|
2,562
|
16
|
Beaverhead County
|
3
|
-0.3
|
4,721
|
-72
|
16
|
Carter County
|
3
|
0
|
636
|
-53
|
16
|
Dawson County
|
3
|
0.7
|
4,890
|
79
|
16
|
Yellowstone County
|
3
|
-0.2
|
79,800
|
2,416
|
20
|
Toole County
|
3.1
|
0.4
|
2,257
|
-40
|
21
|
Fergus County
|
3.3
|
-0.2
|
5,522
|
-91
|
21
|
Teton County
|
3.3
|
0.4
|
2,807
|
-68
|
23
|
Jefferson County
|
3.4
|
-0.5
|
5,519
|
72
|
23
|
Madison County
|
3.4
|
-0.8
|
3,518
|
-17
|
23
|
Missoula County
|
3.4
|
-0.3
|
59,805
|
1,721
|
26
|
Deer Lodge County
|
3.5
|
-0.4
|
5,134
|
87
|
26
|
Wibaux County
|
3.5
|
1.1
|
547
|
-11
|
28
|
Stillwater County
|
3.6
|
0.1
|
4,914
|
44
|
29
|
Carbon County
|
3.7
|
0.5
|
5,372
|
84
|
29
|
Golden Valley County
|
3.7
|
0.2
|
386
|
-5
|
29
|
Meagher County
|
3.7
|
0.4
|
873
|
-18
|
29
|
Phillips County
|
3.7
|
0
|
1,889
|
-96
|
33
|
Hill County
|
3.8
|
-1.2
|
7,396
|
-92
|
34
|
Cascade County
|
3.9
|
0.2
|
36,730
|
4
|
34
|
Pondera County
|
3.9
|
-0.4
|
2,696
|
-97
|
34
|
Prairie County
|
3.9
|
0.7
|
487
|
-21
|
34
|
Silver Bow County
|
3.9
|
-0.4
|
16,276
|
145
|
38
|
Blaine County
|
4
|
-0.6
|
2,302
|
-82
|
39
|
Broadwater County
|
4.2
|
-0.1
|
2,427
|
19
|
39
|
Powell County
|
4.2
|
-0.2
|
2,846
|
-11
|
39
|
Roosevelt County
|
4.2
|
-0.1
|
4,670
|
26
|
42
|
Musselshell County
|
4.3
|
0.9
|
2,358
|
22
|
43
|
Lake County
|
4.4
|
-0.5
|
12,038
|
142
|
44
|
Ravalli County
|
4.5
|
-0.7
|
18,337
|
299
|
45
|
Park County
|
4.7
|
-0.4
|
7,844
|
142
|
45
|
Petroleum County
|
4.7
|
0.5
|
286
|
-14
|
47
|
Wheatland County
|
4.8
|
1.5
|
729
|
-54
|
48
|
Flathead County
|
5
|
-0.6
|
41,811
|
855
|
48
|
Treasure County
|
5
|
1.4
|
323
|
-22
|
50
|
Granite County
|
5.1
|
-0.7
|
1,499
|
45
|
51
|
Big Horn County
|
5.2
|
-2.9
|
5,295
|
76
|
51
|
Rosebud County
|
5.2
|
0.1
|
3,800
|
-113
|
53
|
Sanders County
|
7
|
-0.4
|
4,337
|
-4
|
54
|
Lincoln County
|
7.6
|
-1.5
|
7,298
|
21
|
55
|
Glacier County
|
8.2
|
-3.2
|
4,872
|
-159
|
56
|
Mineral County
|
8.4
|
0.8
|
1,628
|
14
|
****** 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 3.7 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
|
4.7
|
-0.5
|
11,814
|
135
|
2
|
Fort Peck
|
5.3
|
0
|
4,211
|
32
|
3
|
Crow
|
8
|
-4.3
|
2,648
|
41
|
4
|
Fort Belknap
|
9.1
|
-1.1
|
758
|
-28
|
5
|
Rocky Boy's
|
11.1
|
-2.5
|
1,078
|
-24
|
6
|
Blackfeet
|
11.4
|
-3.9
|
3,469
|
-114
|
7
|
Northern Cheyenne
|
11.8
|
-0.8
|
1,380
|
-18
|
Helena, Mont.—Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent in October with no change over the month. The U.S. unemployment rate declined slightly by one-tenth of a percent over the month to 5.0 percent in October.
“Montana’s economy continued to show strength as we entered the fall,” Governor Steve Bullock said. “With over 10,000 jobs added over the last twelve months, Montanans are on the job and earning higher wages.”
“Montana’s unemployment rate is holding steady at just over four percent, which is considered an ideal level for unemployment,” said Labor & Industry Commissioner Pam Bucy. “The Montana Department of Labor & Industry continues to create innovative partnerships with businesses and educational organizations to recruit and train more workers for our growing worker demand.”
Both total employment and payroll employment levels showed little change over the month. Payroll employment indicated 700 jobs gained over the month, with a few job losses in mining and strong gains in construction. Total employment estimates, which include agricultural and self-employed workers along with payroll workers, indicate a statistically insignificant gain of 102 jobs. Employment growth during 2015 remains quite strong, with a 2.1 percent increase in employment over the last year compared to the long-term average of about 1 percent.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in October, marking the end of a two-month price slide. Both food and energy indexes increased slightly. The index for all items less food and energy (also called core inflation) rose 0.2 percent in September.
###
** 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 November 2015 will be released on Friday, December 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 worker shortages in the occupations that require licensing in Montana.
****** 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 3.7 percent.
|
Unemployment Rate
|
Employment
|
Rank
|
County
|
Current Unemployment Rate
|
Change over Year
|
Current Employment
|
Job Change from Last Year
|
1
|
McCone County
|
1.7
|
-0.5
|
1,084
|
-49
|
2
|
Fallon County
|
2.1
|
0.5
|
2,098
|
4
|
2
|
Sheridan County
|
2.1
|
-0.1
|
2,023
|
8
|
4
|
Liberty County
|
2.3
|
-0.1
|
940
|
-66
|
5
|
Powder River County
|
2.5
|
0.2
|
1,029
|
-41
|
6
|
Sweet Grass County
|
2.6
|
-0.7
|
1,775
|
-8
|
6
|
Valley County
|
2.6
|
0.2
|
4,375
|
112
|
8
|
Chouteau County
|
2.7
|
-0.2
|
2,504
|
-111
|
8
|
Garfield County
|
2.7
|
0.5
|
696
|
-63
|
8
|
Richland County
|
2.7
|
0.6
|
7,585
|
303
|
11
|
Custer County
|
2.8
|
0.1
|
6,378
|
43
|
11
|
Daniels County
|
2.8
|
-0.6
|
900
|
-32
|
11
|
Judith Basin County
|
2.8
|
-0.9
|
933
|
-43
|
11
|
Lewis and Clark County
|
2.8
|
-0.4
|
34,792
|
699
|
15
|
Gallatin County
|
2.9
|
-0.5
|
58,098
|
2,562
|
16
|
Beaverhead County
|
3
|
-0.3
|
4,721
|
-72
|
16
|
Carter County
|
3
|
0
|
636
|
-53
|
16
|
Dawson County
|
3
|
0.7
|
4,890
|
79
|
16
|
Yellowstone County
|
3
|
-0.2
|
79,800
|
2,416
|
20
|
Toole County
|
3.1
|
0.4
|
2,257
|
-40
|
21
|
Fergus County
|
3.3
|
-0.2
|
5,522
|
-91
|
21
|
Teton County
|
3.3
|
0.4
|
2,807
|
-68
|
23
|
Jefferson County
|
3.4
|
-0.5
|
5,519
|
72
|
23
|
Madison County
|
3.4
|
-0.8
|
3,518
|
-17
|
23
|
Missoula County
|
3.4
|
-0.3
|
59,805
|
1,721
|
26
|
Deer Lodge County
|
3.5
|
-0.4
|
5,134
|
87
|
26
|
Wibaux County
|
3.5
|
1.1
|
547
|
-11
|
28
|
Stillwater County
|
3.6
|
0.1
|
4,914
|
44
|
29
|
Carbon County
|
3.7
|
0.5
|
5,372
|
84
|
29
|
Golden Valley County
|
3.7
|
0.2
|
386
|
-5
|
29
|
Meagher County
|
3.7
|
0.4
|
873
|
-18
|
29
|
Phillips County
|
3.7
|
0
|
1,889
|
-96
|
33
|
Hill County
|
3.8
|
-1.2
|
7,396
|
-92
|
34
|
Cascade County
|
3.9
|
0.2
|
36,730
|
4
|
34
|
Pondera County
|
3.9
|
-0.4
|
2,696
|
-97
|
34
|
Prairie County
|
3.9
|
0.7
|
487
|
-21
|
34
|
Silver Bow County
|
3.9
|
-0.4
|
16,276
|
145
|
38
|
Blaine County
|
4
|
-0.6
|
2,302
|
-82
|
39
|
Broadwater County
|
4.2
|
-0.1
|
2,427
|
19
|
39
|
Powell County
|
4.2
|
-0.2
|
2,846
|
-11
|
39
|
Roosevelt County
|
4.2
|
-0.1
|
4,670
|
26
|
42
|
Musselshell County
|
4.3
|
0.9
|
2,358
|
22
|
43
|
Lake County
|
4.4
|
-0.5
|
12,038
|
142
|
44
|
Ravalli County
|
4.5
|
-0.7
|
18,337
|
299
|
45
|
Park County
|
4.7
|
-0.4
|
7,844
|
142
|
45
|
Petroleum County
|
4.7
|
0.5
|
286
|
-14
|
47
|
Wheatland County
|
4.8
|
1.5
|
729
|
-54
|
48
|
Flathead County
|
5
|
-0.6
|
41,811
|
855
|
48
|
Treasure County
|
5
|
1.4
|
323
|
-22
|
50
|
Granite County
|
5.1
|
-0.7
|
1,499
|
45
|
51
|
Big Horn County
|
5.2
|
-2.9
|
5,295
|
76
|
51
|
Rosebud County
|
5.2
|
0.1
|
3,800
|
-113
|
53
|
Sanders County
|
7
|
-0.4
|
4,337
|
-4
|
54
|
Lincoln County
|
7.6
|
-1.5
|
7,298
|
21
|
55
|
Glacier County
|
8.2
|
-3.2
|
4,872
|
-159
|
56
|
Mineral County
|
8.4
|
0.8
|
1,628
|
14
|
****** 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 3.7 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
|
4.7
|
-0.5
|
11,814
|
135
|
2
|
Fort Peck
|
5.3
|
0
|
4,211
|
32
|
3
|
Crow
|
8
|
-4.3
|
2,648
|
41
|
4
|
Fort Belknap
|
9.1
|
-1.1
|
758
|
-28
|
5
|
Rocky Boy's
|
11.1
|
-2.5
|
1,078
|
-24
|
6
|
Blackfeet
|
11.4
|
-3.9
|
3,469
|
-114
|
7
|
Northern Cheyenne
|
11.8
|
-0.8
|
1,380
|
-18
|