Unemployment in Montana in January was the fourth lowest in the nation

Meridith Depping KFBB Digital Producer
Meridith Depping

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Mar 19, 2023
Mar 19, 2023

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HELENA, Mont. - The Office of the Governor announced that Montana’s unemployment rate in January is the fourth lowest in the nation.

Unemployment in the state was reported to be 2.5% in January.

According to the Office of the Governor, total employment in Montana rose by 1,444 jobs in January, to a new record high of 555,920 jobs. Montana added 1,500 payroll jobs in January, with the construction industry leading in job gains.

Fallon County saw the lowest unemployment rate at 1.6%, with Sanders County seeing the highest unemployment rate at 6%.

“Hardworking Montanans continue to drive our state’s growing economy, despite severe national headwinds. Montanans are setting new records for job creation, business creation, and employment,” Governor Greg Gianforte said. “With them in mind, we’ll keep building on our pro-business, pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda so more Montanans can thrive, prosper, and achieve the American dream.”

The following county unemployment rates were shared by the Office of the Governor:

County unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.0%.

		Unemployment Rate		Employment
Rank	County	Current Unemployment Rate	Change over Year	Current Employment	Job Change from Last Year
1	Fallon	1.6	-0.6	1643	64
2	Daniels	1.7	-0.3	880	9
2	Toole	1.7	-0.7	2084	97
4	Wibaux	1.8	-1.6	434	41
5	Gallatin	1.9	-0.3	76300	3483
6	Liberty	2	-0.6	1004	25
6	McCone	2	-0.1	991	23
8	Carter	2.1	-0.2	698	48
8	Madison	2.1	-0.6	5970	799
8	Richland	2.1	-0.8	5819	40
11	Dawson	2.2	-0.6	4455	63
11	Hill	2.2	-0.6	7305	27
11	Sheridan	2.2	-0.6	1747	24
14	Beaverhead	2.3	-0.9	5474	471
15	Meagher	2.4	-0.4	1067	29
15	Stillwater	2.4	-0.4	5278	-103
17	Sweet Grass	2.5	0	1879	4
17	Treasure	2.5	0.2	357	17
17	Yellowstone	2.5	-0.5	83231	500
20	Chouteau	2.6	0.2	2483	81
20	Lewis and Clark	2.6	-0.4	37970	1828
20	Pondera	2.6	-0.5	2592	31
23	Carbon	2.7	-0.7	5594	43
23	Judith Basin	2.7	-0.2	1003	46
25	Jefferson	2.8	-0.4	6003	276
25	Cascade	2.8	-0.4	38447	1566
27	Deer Lodge	2.9	-0.6	5292	401
27	Golden Valley	2.9	-1.1	367	3
29	Musselshell	3	-1.4	2293	13
29	Powder River	3	0.2	1005	36
29	Valley	3	-0.6	3848	-35
29	Missoula	3	-0.6	65413	1868
33	Custer	3.2	-0.2	6199	178
33	Park	3.2	-0.5	9581	928
33	Petroleum	3.2	0	270	-1
36	Rosebud	3.3	-0.7	3415	74
36	Teton	3.3	0.1	2757	5
36	Silver Bow	3.3	-0.5	17114	313
39	Powell	3.5	0.7	2748	-89
39	Ravalli	3.5	-0.5	21200	752
41	Blaine	3.7	-0.2	2163	-5
41	Fergus	3.7	-0.5	5647	43
41	Roosevelt	3.7	-0.5	4237	111
44	Lake	3.8	-0.2	13849	343
44	Flathead	3.8	-0.5	50346	1384
46	Garfield	4.1	0.8	747	10
46	Prairie	4.1	-0.2	492	6
46	Wheatland	4.1	-1	744	21
49	Broadwater	4.3	-0.2	2744	180
50	Big Horn	4.4	-2.7	4435	215
51	Phillips	5	0.6	1767	5
52	Granite	5.1	-0.8	1617	6
53	Glacier	5.5	-1.4	5397	296
54	Mineral	5.6	-1.7	1713	-14
55	Lincoln	6	-1.2	8206	710
55	Sanders	6	-0.2	5125	230