FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 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
HELENA – Montana’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in June at 3.9 percent. Employment levels in Montana continued to rise over the month, but the unemployment rate held steady due to growth in the labor force. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 5.3 percent.
“Montana’s economy continues to grow, adding roughly 8,800 jobs in the first half of 2015,” Governor Steve Bullock said. “Strong employment and labor force growth helps ensure Montanans have access to good-paying jobs, and businesses can find the workers they need to drive economic growth.”
“We expect strong wage growth in 2015, as businesses compete to recruit workers in this low unemployment rate environment” said Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy. “The Montana Department of Labor and Industry is committed to identifying and training more Montanans to ensure that we have enough workers to meet the needs of Montana employers.”
Montana’s total employment levels continued to grow, increasing by a few hundred jobs in June, for a total of 12,193 jobs added over the last twelve months and total employment of 504,627. Total employment estimates include payroll employment, plus agricultural and self-employed workers. Payroll employment fell over the month, but has still posted a gain of 2,100 jobs since the beginning of the year.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, with advances in the indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food all contributing. The index for all items less food and energy, also called core inflation, rose 0.2 percent in June.
###
** 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 July 2015 will be released on Friday, August 21, 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 force and its projected growth over the next ten years.
****** 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 4.0 percent.
| |
|
Unemployment Rate
|
Employment
|
|
Rank
|
County
|
Current Unemployment
Rate
|
Change over Year
|
Current Employment
|
Job Change from Last Year
|
|
1
|
Sheridan County
|
1.9
|
-0.5
|
2,153
|
-1
|
|
2
|
McCone County
|
2.0
|
-0.2
|
1,137
|
37
|
|
3
|
Fallon County
|
2.2
|
0.0
|
2,143
|
101
|
|
4
|
Daniels County
|
2.5
|
-0.2
|
929
|
-16
|
|
4
|
Sweet Grass County
|
2.5
|
-1.2
|
1,843
|
34
|
|
6
|
Garfield County
|
2.6
|
-0.1
|
746
|
-5
|
|
6
|
Powder River County
|
2.6
|
-0.7
|
1,120
|
24
|
|
8
|
Liberty County
|
2.7
|
-0.3
|
995
|
16
|
|
9
|
Chouteau County
|
2.8
|
-0.6
|
2,657
|
-8
|
|
9
|
Gallatin County
|
2.8
|
-0.7
|
58,027
|
2,397
|
|
11
|
Valley County
|
3.0
|
0.0
|
4,489
|
132
|
|
12
|
Richland County
|
3.1
|
0.4
|
7,519
|
402
|
|
13
|
Dawson County
|
3.2
|
0.2
|
4,887
|
125
|
|
13
|
Wibaux County
|
3.2
|
0.0
|
597
|
30
|
|
15
|
Beaverhead County
|
3.3
|
-0.3
|
4,839
|
19
|
|
15
|
Custer County
|
3.3
|
0.1
|
6,418
|
-20
|
|
15
|
Lewis and Clark County
|
3.3
|
-0.4
|
35,065
|
676
|
|
15
|
Madison County
|
3.3
|
-1.1
|
4,070
|
102
|
|
15
|
Stillwater County
|
3.3
|
-0.5
|
4,957
|
73
|
|
15
|
Yellowstone County
|
3.3
|
-0.6
|
80,528
|
3,231
|
|
21
|
Carbon County
|
3.4
|
-0.4
|
5,484
|
206
|
|
21
|
Golden Valley County
|
3.4
|
-0.1
|
402
|
13
|
|
21
|
Toole County
|
3.4
|
0.4
|
2,360
|
0
|
|
24
|
Jefferson County
|
3.5
|
-1.2
|
5,586
|
105
|
|
24
|
Meagher County
|
3.5
|
-1.1
|
911
|
9
|
|
24
|
Petroleum County
|
3.5
|
-0.1
|
302
|
7
|
|
27
|
Carter County
|
3.6
|
0.4
|
672
|
-29
|
|
28
|
Fergus County
|
3.7
|
-0.2
|
5,674
|
-32
|
|
28
|
Missoula County
|
3.7
|
-0.6
|
59,523
|
1,036
|
|
28
|
Teton County
|
3.7
|
0.2
|
2,931
|
19
|
|
31
|
Deer Lodge County
|
3.8
|
-0.6
|
5,264
|
84
|
|
31
|
Musselshell County
|
3.8
|
-0.3
|
2,418
|
73
|
|
33
|
Cascade County
|
3.9
|
-0.4
|
37,322
|
-218
|
|
33
|
Park County
|
3.9
|
-1.0
|
8,323
|
201
|
|
35
|
Judith Basin County
|
4.0
|
-0.2
|
963
|
1
|
|
36
|
Silver Bow County
|
4.3
|
-0.8
|
16,437
|
20
|
|
37
|
Prairie County
|
4.4
|
0.2
|
523
|
0
|
|
38
|
Powell County
|
4.5
|
-0.3
|
2,914
|
30
|
|
39
|
Phillips County
|
4.6
|
-0.4
|
1,947
|
-32
|
|
40
|
Hill County
|
4.7
|
-1.9
|
7,475
|
-20
|
|
41
|
Blaine County
|
4.8
|
-1.4
|
2,268
|
-23
|
|
42
|
Broadwater County
|
4.9
|
-0.5
|
2,464
|
59
|
|
42
|
Lake County
|
4.9
|
-0.6
|
12,504
|
145
|
|
42
|
Pondera County
|
4.9
|
-0.3
|
2,767
|
0
|
|
42
|
Ravalli County
|
4.9
|
-0.9
|
18,629
|
469
|
|
46
|
Rosebud County
|
5.1
|
-0.4
|
4,113
|
-180
|
|
47
|
Flathead County
|
5.2
|
-0.7
|
43,041
|
696
|
|
47
|
Granite County
|
5.2
|
-1.5
|
1,573
|
111
|
|
47
|
Wheatland County
|
5.2
|
0.9
|
777
|
5
|
|
50
|
Roosevelt County
|
5.3
|
-0.2
|
4,732
|
0
|
|
51
|
Treasure County
|
5.7
|
1.5
|
346
|
7
|
|
52
|
Big Horn County
|
6.5
|
-3.7
|
5,280
|
137
|
|
53
|
Mineral County
|
7.0
|
-1.0
|
1,718
|
35
|
|
54
|
Sanders County
|
7.3
|
-1.2
|
4,438
|
54
|
|
55
|
Lincoln County
|
8.9
|
-1.5
|
7,516
|
107
|
|
56
|
Glacier County
|
9.3
|
-1.3
|
5,631
|
-53
|
****** 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 4.0 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
|
5.2
|
-0.7
|
12,243
|
144
|
|
2
|
Fort Peck Reservation
|
6.5
|
-0.2
|
4,275
|
12
|
|
3
|
Crow Reservation
|
9.9
|
-5.3
|
2,643
|
71
|
|
4
|
Fort Belknap Reservation
|
10.8
|
-2.5
|
748
|
-9
|
|
5
|
Northern Cheyenne Reservation
|
12.2
|
-1.9
|
1,450
|
-27
|
|
6
|
Rocky Boy Reservation
|
12.8
|
-4.0
|
1,107
|
-3
|
|
7
|
Blackfeet Reservation
|
12.9
|
-1.6
|
3,979
|
-35
|