Montana’s Unemployment Rate at 3.3%

Remains in top ten states with lowest unemployment rates

• January 07 2026

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana’s unemployment rate rose to 3.3 percent in November, continuing the record of over four consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4 percent.

Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.3 percent lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.6 percent in November. Montana remained in the top ten states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.

“Through 406 JOBS, we’ve established a unifying framework to unlock the full potential of our workforce to ensure all Montanans have access to a plan and pathway to work,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Whether in a career, college, or military, the state is equipped more than ever before to strengthen our workforce and prepare the next generation to meet the needs of our job creators.”

Montana’s labor force added approximately 2,200 workers over the last two months ending in November, while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased by nearly 800, generating an increase in the unemployment rate. Payroll jobs grew over the last two months, with gains in administrative services and transportation offsetting declines in government and healthcare employment. October 2025 unemployment data are unavailable due to the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations. 

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis over the two months from September to November 2025. Over the last twelve months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.6 percent over the last 12-months. The energy index increased 4.2 percent for the 12 months ending November. The food index increased 2.6 percent over the last year.

To support the workforce system, Gov. Gianforte and the Montana Department of Labor & Industry in December announced the 406 JOBS Year One Work Plan, a comprehensive roadmap developed by the State Workforce Innovation Board to modernize Montana’s workforce development system.

Delivered just 90 days after the governor launched the 406 JOBS initiative with Executive Order 5-2025, the plan outlines immediate actions to align government resources to support workers and employers. The plan identifies 12 priorities across the workforce system, including private and public sectors, to drive innovation, remove red tape, and foster collaboration between state agencies.

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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 December 2025, will be released on Tuesday, January 27.

**** 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 3.4%.

****** 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 3.4%. 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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