FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, October 20, 2015
CONTACT: Tim Crowe, Governor’s Office, 444-9844

Jake Troyer, Communications Director, Department of Labor & Industry, 444-1674

Barbara Wagner, Chief Economist, Department of Labor & Industry, 444-5474

HELENA – Montana’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in September to 4.1 percent, a decline of 0.1 percentage points from the revised August estimate of 4.2 percent.  The U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged over the month at 5.1 percent.

“Montana’s economy continues to show strength as we head toward the end of the year,” Governor Steve Bullock said.  “Over 10,000 jobs have been added over the last twelve months, and wages are outpacing the national average.”

“Montana’s unemployment rate has hovered around four percent for the last several months, which is considered an ideal level for unemployment,” said Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy. “Our economy continues to be strong, with rising wages and increasing opportunities for our workers and businesses.”

Both total employment and payroll employment levels showed little change over the month.  Payroll employment indicated a 900 jobs loss over the month, with job losses in the construction industry.  Construction employment has shown strength over the last year; this month’s data may just reflect a temporary decline from a few projects finishing before the winter months.  Total employment estimates, which include agricultural and self-employed workers along with payroll workers, indicate a statistically insignificant loss of 353 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) declined 0.2 percent in September on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking two straight months of price declines.  The energy index fell 4.7 percent, with gasoline falling sharply.  The index for all items less food and energy (also called core inflation) rose 0.2 percent in September.

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** 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 September 2015 will be released on Friday, November 20, 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 evaluates hiring trends by 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 3.3 percent. 

 

		Unemployment Rate		Employment
Rank	County	Current Unemployment Rate	Change over Year	Current Employment	Job Change from Last Year
1	McCone	1.7	-0.4	1,067	-30
2	Fallon	1.9	0.1	2,087	23
2	Sheridan	1.9	-0.5	2,051	18
4	Garfield	2.0	-0.4	691	-50
5	Gallatin	2.2	-0.6	58,550	2,316
5	Valley	2.2	-0.5	4,340	121
7	Liberty	2.4	-0.7	927	-46
7	Sweet Grass	2.4	-0.7	1,767	-4
9	Custer	2.5	-0.4	6,344	13
10	Chouteau	2.6	-0.4	2,426	-81
10	Daniels	2.6	-0.7	893	-27
10	Judith Basin	2.6	-1.2	955	-20
10	Lewis and Clark	2.6	-0.6	34,564	547
14	Beaverhead	2.8	-0.4	4,716	-76
14	Madison	2.8	-0.9	3,870	-18
14	Richland	2.8	0.6	7,321	313
14	Yellowstone	2.8	-0.5	79,632	2,421
18	Dawson	2.9	0.3	4,835	90
18	Fergus	2.9	-0.6	5,482	-86
18	Powder River	2.9	0.1	1,020	-22
21	Missoula	3.0	-0.7	59,958	1,627
22	Carbon	3.1	-0.4	5,360	93
22	Carter	3.1	0.5	623	-43
22	Jefferson	3.1	-0.7	5,482	61
22	Phillips	3.1	-0.9	1,877	-68
22	Teton	3.1	0.0	2,799	-49
22	Toole	3.1	0.5	2,270	-25
28	Deer Lodge	3.3	-0.4	5,136	65
28	Meagher	3.3	-0.2	852	-14
28	Stillwater	3.3	-0.1	4,875	50
31	Prairie	3.4	-0.2	490	-16
32	Cascade	3.5	-0.2	36,777	57
32	Golden Valley	3.5	-0.2	387	-1
34	Hill	3.6	-1.3	7,327	-93
34	Park	3.6	-0.5	7,980	88
34	Silver Bow	3.6	-0.7	16,164	108
37	Blaine	3.7	-1.0	2,265	-75
38	Broadwater	3.8	-0.4	2,400	-1
38	Musselshell	3.8	0.3	2,323	29
38	Powell	3.8	-0.3	2,835	-17
41	Pondera	3.9	-0.5	2,645	-76
41	Wibaux	3.9	0.9	542	-6
43	Treasure	4.1	0.7	330	-14
44	Ravalli	4.2	-1.0	18,204	222
45	Flathead	4.4	-0.7	42,121	520
45	Lake	4.4	-0.5	11,922	64
47	Roosevelt	4.5	0.1	4,596	36
47	Wheatland	4.5	0.5	724	-48
49	Rosebud	5.1	-0.1	3,806	-95
50	Big Horn	5.2	-2.9	5,224	35
51	Granite	5.4	0.2	1,525	41
52	Petroleum	5.7	2.4	282	-8
53	Mineral	5.8	-1.7	1,649	10
54	Glacier	6.7	-2.4	5,574	-74
55	Sanders	6.9	-0.2	4,350	-23
56	Lincoln	7.3	-1.1	7,279	-30

 

 

 

 

****** 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 3.3 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	11,715	63
2	Fort Peck	5.5	0.1	4,148	40
3	Crow	8.0	-4.3	2,615	23
4	Fort Belknap	8.4	-1.9	746	-25
5	Blackfeet	9.5	-3.0	3,931	-56
6	Rocky Boy's	10.6	-3.0	1,061	-20
7	Northern Cheyenne	11.6	-1.1	1,375	-18