Montana’s Unemployment Rate Remains Near Historic Low

Nearly 41,000 jobs created since January 2021

• April 19 2024

HELENA, Mont. – Today, Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana’s unemployment rate was 3.3% in March as employment levels increased.

“Montana’s economy is thriving thanks to our pro-jobs, pro-business policies,” Gov. Gianforte said. “While we continue to battle inflation, many businesses are hiring and providing good paying jobs. Our administration will continue to develop workforce opportunities so every Montanan has a chance to fulfill the American dream.”

Since Gov. Gianforte took office in January 2021, nearly 41,000 jobs have been created in Montana. Under his leadership, total employment reached an all-time high in December.

Montana’s unemployment rate of 3.3% remains below the national rate of 3.8%.

In March, total employment in Montana increased by 480 workers, while the labor force fell by about 150 workers. Payroll employment increased by 1,700 jobs with the strongest job gains in the healthcare and construction industries.

In March, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4% over-the-month. Increases in the shelter index and the gasoline index comprised over half of the monthly increase. The 12-month change in the all-items index was 3.5%. The index for all items minus food and energy, or core inflation, rose 0.4% in March.  

According to the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, President Joe Biden's inflation tax has driven up costs for Montana households by 21.6% since he took office, making it harder for Montanans to make ends meet. Hardworking Montanans are paying about $1,110 more per month today for the things they need than when Biden took office.

In the last year, Biden's inflation has forced hardworking Montanans to pay 6% more for housing, 22% more for car insurance, 12% more for car repairs, and 10% more for baby food, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

###

** 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 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. 

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. 

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%.   

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 3.3%. Reservation areas overlap with county areas, meaning that unemployed individuals living on a reservation will be included in both the reservation and county totals.  

###