Montana Job Growth Continues Setting Records
Press Release
Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana's economy continued its strong growth in July, reaching a new record high for the number of Montanans employed. Job creation in Montana grew in July for the 27th consecutive month.
According to data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Montana's labor force added 1,470 workers in July, while Montana's total employment grew by 712 workers.
"With our focus on trades education and expanding opportunities for good-paying careers, more and more Montanans are getting back to work," Gov. Gianforte said. "Montana's record job growth is easing our workforce shortage and providing relief to employers who are hiring."
Importantly, Montana's labor force participation rate rose to 62.7% as more and more Montana workers reentered the workforce. Nearly 24,000 workers have been added to Montana's labor force since Gov. Gianforte took office, and labor force levels are at historic highs. The state's labor force participation rate is the proportion of the working-age population that is either working or actively looking for work.
Private sector payrolls had a net gain of 500 jobs in July, with health care and social assistance leading the way with 800 jobs added.
Montana's unemployment rate was 2.7% in July, as labor force growth continued to outpace total employment. The unemployment rate for the U.S. was at 3.5% in July.
Inflation over the last 12 months ticked down slightly in July to 8.5%. In June, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) reached 9.1%, its highest level since November 1981. In July, prices for gasoline and natural gas fell while the food and shelter indexes rose.
According to BLS, between July 2021 and July 2022, gas prices increased by 44.0%, energy services prices by 18.8%, grocery prices by 13.1%, baby food prices by 15.0%, infants' and toddlers' apparel prices by 8.2%, airfare prices by 27.7%, and new vehicle prices by 10.4%.
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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 0.5 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 Research and Analysis Bureau at 406-444-4100.
The next Labor Market Information report including data from August 2022 will be released on Friday, September 16.
**** 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 2.7%.
Unemployment Rate
Employment
Rank
County
Current Unemployment Rate
Change over Year
Current Employment
Job Change from Last Year
1
Fallon
1.6
-0.8
1582
59
2
Daniels
1.8
-0.2
852
17
2
Sheridan
1.8
-1.1
1683
-64
2
Gallatin
1.8
-0.3
79574
3983
5
Sweet Grass
1.9
-0.4
1973
128
6
McCone
2
0.1
902
13
6
Petroleum
2
-0.8
243
-1
6
Powder River
2
-0.3
911
10
9
Carter
2.1
-0.7
571
-23
9
Judith Basin
2.1
-1.1
828
3
11
Madison
2.2
-0.6
4727
366
11
Meagher
2.2
0.3
983
33
11
Stillwater
2.2
-0.7
5346
32
14
Beaverhead
2.3
-0.1
5095
37
14
Powell
2.3
0.2
3028
6
14
Toole
2.3
-0.2
2056
65
14
Valley
2.3
-0.7
3983
52
18
Deer Lodge
2.4
-0.9
5411
389
18
Liberty
2.4
-0.1
877
-17
20
Custer
2.5
-0.4
6275
233
20
Fergus
2.5
-0.4
5785
102
20
Jefferson
2.5
-0.7
5976
172
20
Lewis and Clark
2.5
-0.3
38162
1180
20
Prairie
2.5
-0.8
475
1
20
Treasure
2.5
-1
316
9
26
Carbon
2.6
-0.6
5684
173
26
Dawson
2.6
-0.3
4365
121
26
Park
2.6
-0.4
10232
700
26
Yellowstone
2.6
-0.6
86261
3092
26
Missoula
2.6
-0.6
66138
3112
31
Ravalli
2.7
-0.6
21443
741
31
Wibaux
2.7
-1.4
403
26
31
Flathead
2.7
-0.7
53649
1874
34
Garfield
2.8
0.3
651
-13
34
Teton
2.8
-0.3
2591
-19
34
Cascade
2.8
-0.5
37355
1061
37
Chouteau
2.9
0.4
2199
-17
37
Musselshell
2.9
-0.9
2240
35
37
Silver Bow
2.9
-0.6
17855
515
40
Golden Valley
3
-1.1
359
8
41
Granite
3.1
-0.8
1617
91
41
Hill
3.1
-0.4
7023
-172
41
Pondera
3.1
-0.5
2443
46
44
Richland
3.2
-1.1
5495
-9
45
Lake
3.3
-0.5
13915
137
46
Broadwater
3.4
-0.1
2703
122
46
Wheatland
3.4
-1.5
660
-3
48
Blaine
3.5
-0.4
1995
19
49
Phillips
3.7
-0.1
1676
-15
50
Sanders
3.9
-0.2
5120
157
51
Roosevelt
4
-0.9
4053
70
51
Rosebud
4
-0.5
3416
29
53
Mineral
4.5
0.1
1874
-79
54
Lincoln
4.6
-0.8
8477
799
55
Big Horn
5.9
-2.4
4329
61
56
Glacier
7.6
0.1
4532
-739
****** 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 2.7%. 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
3.4
-0.5
13643
168
2
Fort Peck
4.9
-1.2
3670
58
3
Fort Belknap
8.4
-0.7
658
6
4
Crow
8.7
-3.4
2244
37
5
Rocky Boy's
9.7
-0.6
1000
-19
6
Northern Cheyenne
9.9
-1.7
1199
13
7
Blackfeet
10.5
0.1
3221
-487
Source