Fallon County, Montana – In October, Fallon County had a 1.9% unemployment rate, the lowest in Montana.
Across the U.S., unemployment rates are now similar to what they were before COVID, staying around 3.5% to 4% for the last two years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 3.9% rate in October. Back in April 2020, during the peak of COVID-19, it had shot up to 14.7%, and remained high until the end of 2021.
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Even though the overall U.S. unemployment rate has stabilized, it’s different in each local area. We analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics data to see how Fallon County’s joblessness compares over time, within Montana, and in the U.S. as a whole.
Fallon County unemployment rate is 0.9% lower than Montana’s average
Fallon County’s unemployment rate is 2% lower than the national average and 0.9% lower than Montana’s average. It’s the 56th in the state, sorted first by the latest unemployment rate in October 2023, and then by the number of people without jobs. McCone County is slightly ahead with a 2.0% unemployment rate, but Fallon County has the least unemployment in Montana.
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This means about 32 of the roughly 1,676 people working in Fallon County are currently unemployed. That’s an increase of 5 from last month and 7 more compared to last year. Some experts are worried about a possible recession, which could lead to more unemployment due to businesses shutting down and job cuts.