Helena, Montana – Montana’s unemployment rate moved slightly lower in July, reaching 3.2 percent as the state recorded an increase in employment and a decline in the number of people without jobs.
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the latest labor figures, noting that Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained below the national rate. The U.S. unemployment rate also declined during July, reaching 4.1 percent.
The new figures show that Montana’s total employment increased by 625 jobs during the month. Total employment includes payroll employees as well as agricultural and self employed workers. Meanwhile, the state’s overall labor force remained largely unchanged.
The number of unemployed Montanans declined by nearly 600. The combination of fewer unemployed people and an increase in employment helped push the state’s unemployment rate down to 3.2 percent.
“As Montana’s unemployment rate continues to decline, businesses across our state are expanding, creating high-paying jobs, and opening up new opportunities for our workforce,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through the 406 JOBS initiative, we are building on our strong momentum and capitalizing on our growing economy to ensure Montanans who are ready to work can get connected to a meaningful career.”
Payroll employment adds 700 jobs during July
Payroll employment also increased during the month, with Montana adding approximately 700 payroll jobs.
Several industries contributed to the growth. Professional and business services added employment, while retail and wholesale trade also recorded gains. Those increases helped offset job losses in accommodation and food services.
Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, said the unemployment figures offer an encouraging signal for residents searching for employment.
“Montana’s unemployment rate is a positive sign for Montanans seeking their next opportunity,” said Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of Labor and Industry. “As employers continue to hire, we are committed to helping Montanans connect with the skills, resources, and careers that allow them to thrive.”
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment figure differs from the unadjusted rate used when comparing individual counties. Montana’s unadjusted statewide unemployment rate for July was 2.8 percent.
County data showed significant differences across the state.
Prairie County recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 1.4 percent. Carter County followed at 1.6 percent, while Powder River County had a rate of 1.7 percent.
Garfield and Park counties each stood at 1.8 percent. Beaverhead, Liberty, Meagher and Sweet Grass counties each recorded rates of 1.9 percent.
Among Montana’s larger population centers, Gallatin County had a 2.2 percent unemployment rate with 78,081 people employed. Flathead County stood at 2.5 percent with 62,512 employed, while Lewis and Clark County recorded a rate of 2.6 percent and employment of 37,019.
Missoula County’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent, with 70,002 people employed. Yellowstone County, which had the largest employment total listed in the county data at 86,856, recorded a 2.9 percent unemployment rate.
Cascade County stood at 3 percent.
At the higher end, Lincoln County had an unemployment rate of 5.1 percent, while Glacier County recorded 5.3 percent. Big Horn County had the highest county unemployment rate in the state at 6.2 percent. However, its rate was 0.7 percentage points lower than a year earlier.
Reservation unemployment remains higher in several areas
The report also provided unemployment figures for Montana’s seven reservation areas. These figures are not seasonally adjusted and are also intended to be compared with the statewide unadjusted rate of 2.8 percent.
Flathead recorded the lowest reservation unemployment rate at 4 percent, followed by Fort Peck at 6 percent and Blackfeet at 7.1 percent.
Rocky Boy’s recorded 9.2 percent, while Northern Cheyenne stood at 9.4 percent. Crow had a 10 percent unemployment rate.
Fort Belknap recorded the highest rate among the seven at 11.9 percent. However, that represented a decrease of 1.6 percentage points from the previous year, the largest year over year decline among the reservation areas listed.
Reservation areas overlap with counties, meaning people living on reservations are also included in the corresponding county figures.
The report also included the latest inflation numbers. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased by 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in July.
Over the previous 12 months, the overall index increased 3.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. Shelter costs rose 0.1 percent during July and accounted for roughly two thirds of the month’s overall price increase.
Core inflation, which removes food and energy prices from the calculation, increased 2.5 percent over the previous 12 months.
State officials noted that unemployment figures are seasonally adjusted to remove the impact of patterns that regularly occur at similar times each year. This allows longer term and nonseasonal labor market changes to be seen more clearly.
The reported statewide unemployment rate also carries a margin of error of plus or minus 0.5 percentage points at the 90 percent confidence level.
Montana’s next Labor Market Information report will provide employment and unemployment figures for August 2026. It is scheduled to be released on Friday, September 18.
For now, July’s figures show Montana continuing to maintain an unemployment rate below the national level, while total employment and payroll jobs both moved higher and the number of unemployed residents declined.
