Montana’s Unemployment Rate at 3.4%

Remains in top ten states with lowest unemployment rates

• January 27 2026

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana’s unemployment rate rose to 3.4 percent in December, continuing the record of over four consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4 percent.

Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.0 percent lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.4 percent in December. Montana remained in the top ten states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.

“Working with the Department of Labor & Industry, we’ve identified a framework to ensure all Montanans in the labor force have a pathway to a career, college, military, or entrepreneurial opportunity,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through 406 JOBS, we’re helping open the doors in the public and private sector to greater opportunity and a stronger workforce for our leading industries.”

Montana’s labor force added approximately 1,150 workers over the last month, while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased by 500, resulting in an increase in the unemployment rate. Payroll jobs grew by over 2,000 in December, with the largest gains in construction and leisure activities. 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in December. Over the last twelve months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter rose 0.4 percent in December and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase. Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.6 percent over the last twelve months.

Last August, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry released a report showing that more than 100,000 working age Montanans are not employed and not seeking work. Through Gov. Gianforte’s 406 JOBS Initiative, the department is helping Montanans enter or re-enter the workforce with a specific focus on health care, construction, hospitality and recreation, advanced manufacturing and computing, education and child care, and financial and professional services.

More information on 406 JOBS can be viewed here.

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** Unemployment figures are seasonally-adjusted. Seasonally-adjusted numbers remove the effects of events that follow a regular month-to-month pattern each year. These adjustments make non-seasonal 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 & Industry’s Data and Operations Bureau at 406-444-4100.

The next Labor Market Information report, including data from January 2026, will be released in March.

**** 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. Visit www.lmi.mt.gov/home/job-tracking for Montana unemployment claims and current economic data.

****** 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%.

****** RESERVATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ****** 

The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana’s seven reservations is provided below. Reservation unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.7%. Reservation areas overlap with county areas, meaning that unemployed individuals living on a reservation will be included in both the reservation and county totals.

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