FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2015
 

CONTACT: Mike Wessler, Governor’s Office, 444-9725

Annie Glover, Communications Director, Department of Labor & Industry, 444-1654

Amy Watson, Economist, Department of Labor & Industry, 444-3245

Montana’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.0 Percent

HELENA – Montana’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.0 percent in April.  Over the month of April, Montana’s unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points from the revised March unemployment rate of 4.2 percent. Montana’s unemployment rate has not been this low since September 2007. The U.S. unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.4 percent in April.

“With strong job gains in April, Montana’s economy continues to do very well in 2015,” Governor Steve Bullock said.  “More Montanans are entering the labor force looking for work, and more workers have been able to find jobs, which is great news for Montana workers and businesses.”

“We expect strong wage growth to continue in 2015 as Montana businesses increase wages to recruit workers in this low unemployment rate environment,” said Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy. “In today’s tight labor market, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry is committed to helping prepare Montana’s workforce for tomorrow’s jobs, so that businesses can count on their workforce to ensure strong economic growth in the years to come.”

Montana’s total employment levels continued to grow, increasing by 1,299 jobs in April, for a total of 10,729 jobs added over the last twelve months.  Total employment estimates include payroll employment, plus agricultural and self-employed workers.  Payroll employment estimates indicate a similar gain of 1,100 jobs over the month, bouncing back from a loss of 300 jobs last month.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in April. Energy prices fell over the month, while food prices remained unchanged. Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U has declined 0.2 percent, largely due to a sharp decline in gasoline prices compared to last year. The index for all items less food and energy, also called core inflation, rose 0.3 percent in April to reflect increases in the price of shelter, medical care, and transportation. 

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** 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 May 2015 will be released on Friday, June 19, 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 annual employment data for Montana’s Indian Reservations.  This month’s Economy at a Glance summarizes the Montana employment projections, with information on estimated employment growth by industry, occupation, and region through the year 2024.

 

****** 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 3.9 percent. 

 

		Unemployment Rate		Employment
Rank	County	Current Unemployment Rate	Change over Year	Current Employment	Job Change from Last Year
1	Daniels County	2.0	-0.7	915	-2
1	Sheridan County	2.0	-0.5	2,080	6
3	Fallon County	2.1	0.0	2,122	106
4	McCone County	2.2	0.0	1,081	35
5	Sweet Grass County	2.4	-1.4	1,724	28
6	Liberty County	2.5	-0.3	962	38
6	Wibaux County	2.5	-0.8	556	28
8	Chouteau County	2.6	-0.8	2,525	34
9	Powder River County	2.7	-0.8	1,043	50
9	Richland County	2.7	-0.2	7,370	385
11	Toole County	2.8	0.0	2,298	8
12	Dawson County	2.9	0.3	4,907	142
12	Gallatin County	2.9	-0.6	56,134	2,333
12	Valley County	2.9	-0.3	4,326	119
12	Yellowstone County	2.9	-0.7	79,986	2,564
16	Custer County	3.0	-0.1	6,424	-8
16	Lewis and Clark County	3.0	-0.7	34,711	454
18	Garfield County	3.1	0.8	722	11
18	Stillwater County	3.1	-0.3	4,952	34
20	Madison County	3.2	-1.4	4,349	-13
21	Jefferson County	3.3	-1.3	5,513	86
21	Judith Basin County	3.3	-1.5	924	19
23	Beaverhead County	3.4	-0.4	4,688	17
24	Carbon County	3.5	-0.4	5,397	178
24	Carter County	3.5	-0.8	626	10
26	Cascade County	3.6	-0.6	36,937	-416
26	Deer Lodge County	3.6	-0.6	5,158	58
26	Missoula County	3.6	-0.8	59,769	1,656
29	Teton County	3.7	-0.3	2,827	89
30	Silver Bow County	3.8	-1.1	16,384	-6
31	Hill County	3.9	-2.0	7,510	-6
32	Fergus County	4.0	-0.3	5,541	-19
32	Musselshell County	4.0	-0.3	2,379	89
32	Petroleum County	4.0	0.8	291	16
35	Golden Valley County	4.2	-0.6	391	15
35	Pondera County	4.2	-0.5	2,764	48
37	Meagher County	4.3	-0.3	846	-4
38	Rosebud County	4.4	-0.8	4,035	-42
38	Wheatland County	4.4	-1.0	745	14
40	Lake County	4.6	-1.2	12,066	17
40	Prairie County	4.6	-0.5	493	14
42	Powell County	4.8	-1.1	2,802	38
43	Broadwater County	4.9	-0.6	2,410	41
43	Ravalli County	4.9	-1.1	18,268	294
43	Roosevelt County	4.9	-0.3	4,627	27
46	Blaine County	5.0	-1.0	2,300	-53
46	Treasure County	5.0	0.8	340	2
48	Park County	5.2	-1.3	7,534	183
48	Phillips County	5.2	-0.8	1,872	31
50	Flathead County	5.5	-1.5	40,983	477
51	Granite County	6.0	-2.6	1,493	110
52	Big Horn County	6.4	-4.3	5,129	129
53	Mineral County	7.6	-1.1	1,599	5
53	Sanders County	7.6	-2.1	4,298	86
55	Glacier County	8.9	-1.3	4,946	-291
56	Lincoln County	10.3	-2.5	7,118	150

 

 

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