MT unemployment remains near historic low in May
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News from the office of Governor Gianforte
HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced that Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 3.1% in May, near the historic, all-time low of 2.3%.
Montana’s unemployment rate remains nearly one percent below the national rate of 4%.
“Even in the face of Joe Biden’s affordability crisis, Montanans continue to work hard to earn a living, own or rent a home, raise their family, and achieve the American dream,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We’ll continue to advance our pro-jobs, pro-family, pro-business policies to drive our economy forward and help Montanans prosper.”
Since Gov. Gianforte took office in January 2021, nearly 40,000 jobs have been created in Montana. Under his leadership, total employment reached another all-time high in May.
Total employment and the number of people in the labor force were mostly unchanged in May, leading to no change in the unemployment rate. Payroll employment showed strong gains, adding 3,000 jobs in May, with the Leisure Activities sector, which includes accommodations, food service, and recreation, leading private sector gains.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in May, on a seasonally adjusted basis, for a 12-month change of 3.3%. Energy prices were down over-the-month, led by declines in the gasoline index. These declines were offset by increases in the indices for shelter and food. The index for all items minus food and energy, or core inflation, rose 0.2% in May.
Unemployment Rate Employment
Rank / County /Current Unemployment Rate /Change over Year /Current Employ. /Job Change
46 Lake 3.4 0.3 13928 318
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 2.9%. 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 / County / Current Unemploy. Rate /Change /Current Employ. /Job Change
1 Flathead Reservation 3.7 0.4 13698 284