Report: New Record Number of Montanans Working
Press Release
The number of Montanans employed grew in June 2022 for the 26th consecutive month, reaching a new all-time high, according to data from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Also in the month of June, Montana's labor force grew to its largest level on record, and the state's unemployment rate remained near historic lows.
"More Montanans are working than ever before, and our expanding workforce is helping job creators fill key positions across the state. Montana workers continue to benefit from strong private sector job growth," Governor Greg Gianforte said. "Our economy continues to show strong signs of job growth, but with the federal government's out-of-control spending, Montanans are paying higher prices for gas and groceries as inflation reached its highest level in 41 years."
Payroll employment in Montana rose by a strong 4,400 jobs in June, with the largest gains in private sector health care, accommodation, and food service industries. In June 2022, 1,095 jobs were created, with 30,550 jobs created since Gov. Gianforte was elected in November 2020.
With 550,112 Montanans employed in June, Montana has recovered 146 percent of the jobs lost at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Montana's labor force continued its robust growth in June, adding roughly 1,789 workers to bring it to 564,537, a new all-time high.
For the second month in a row Montana's labor force growth narrowly outpaced its job growth, resulting in a slight uptick in the unemployment rate for June by 0.2% to 2.6%, the third lowest rate ever recorded in Montana.
The unemployment rate for the U.S. remained at 3.6% in June.
Over the last 12 months, inflation has skyrocketed to 9.1%, with the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) at its highest level since November 1981. Price increases were broad-based, led by increases in energy, shelter, and food costs.
According to BLS, between June 2021 and June 2022, gas prices increased by 59.9%, grocery prices by 12.2%, energy services prices by 19.4%, airfare prices by 34.1%, new vehicle prices by 11.4%, and baby food by 14.0%
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** 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 0.6 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 Research and Analysis Bureau at 406-444-4100.
The next Labor Market Information report including data from July 2022 will be released on Friday, August 19.
**** 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.
Unemployment Rate
Employment
Rank
County
Current Unemployment Rate
Change over Year
Current Employment
Job Change from Last Year
1
Daniels
1.8
-0.3
836
-2
1
Fallon
1.8
-0.9
1566
15
3
McCone
2
-0.4
929
11
3
Sweet Grass
2
-0.7
1918
66
3
Gallatin
2
-0.7
76844
4522
6
Carter
2.1
-1.1
592
9
6
Sheridan
2.1
-1.4
1732
-3
8
Madison
2.3
-1.2
4749
345
8
Petroleum
2.3
-0.7
257
-1
8
Powder River
2.3
-0.4
960
30
8
Toole
2.3
-0.5
2016
37
12
Stillwater
2.4
-1.1
5421
176
13
Beaverhead
2.5
-0.4
5103
100
13
Judith Basin
2.5
-0.1
841
-31
13
Liberty
2.5
-0.1
906
-17
13
Prairie
2.5
-1.4
464
-8
13
Valley
2.5
-1
3964
93
18
Deer Lodge
2.6
-0.8
5307
295
18
Jefferson
2.6
-1.1
5916
222
18
Lewis and Clark
2.6
-0.7
37703
1535
18
Meagher
2.6
0.2
928
48
22
Chouteau
2.7
-0.3
2385
3
22
Custer
2.7
-0.8
6277
416
22
Musselshell
2.7
-1.9
2358
58
22
Park
2.7
-0.7
9773
425
22
Powell
2.7
0
3048
64
22
Treasure
2.7
-0.9
323
5
28
Fergus
2.8
-0.7
5886
358
28
Ravalli
2.8
-1
21711
685
28
Teton
2.8
-0.5
2745
2
28
Wibaux
2.8
-1
415
-13
28
Yellowstone
2.8
-0.9
85581
3624
28
Missoula
2.8
-0.9
66055
2177
34
Dawson
2.9
-0.9
4309
119
34
Cascade
2.9
-0.8
38016
1306
36
Carbon
3
-0.6
5650
186
36
Lake
3
-1.3
14454
650
36
Pondera
3
-0.8
2548
28
39
Hill
3.1
-0.8
7355
93
39
Flathead
3.1
-1.1
52466
2241
41
Garfield
3.2
0.8
665
-21
41
Silver Bow
3.2
-0.8
17733
621
43
Richland
3.3
-1.7
5550
26
44
Blaine
3.5
-1.6
2088
29
44
Broadwater
3.5
-0.9
2659
101
44
Golden Valley
3.5
-0.6
359
8
47
Granite
3.6
-1
1682
72
47
Phillips
3.6
-0.8
1716
-39
49
Wheatland
3.7
-1.6
686
-33
50
Sanders
4
-0.7
5306
309
51
Roosevelt
4.2
-1.1
4258
124
52
Rosebud
4.3
-0.1
3569
98
53
Mineral
4.8
-0.5
1922
104
54
Lincoln
5.2
-1
8321
521
55
Big Horn
5.9
-3.7
4472
167
56
Glacier
7.1
-1.4
5441
195
****** 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 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
Area
Current Unemployment Rate
Change over Year
Current Employment
Job Change from Last Year
1
Flathead
3.2
-1.3
14152
643
2
Fort Peck
5.2
-1.5
3833
108
3
Fort Belknap
8.2
-3
687
8
4
Crow
8.8
-5.2
2308
87
5
Rocky Boy's
9.6
-1.9
1058
10
6
Blackfeet
9.7
-1.9
3835
133
7
Northern Cheyenne
10.6
-1.4
1247
39
Source