HELENA – Montana’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.0% for the month of April while the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9%.
Both payroll and total employment levels posted insignificant decreases over the last month, with small gains in leisure and hospitality, and accommodation and food service offset by small losses in other industries.
There was also a small but significant drop in the labor force participation rate over the last month. However, the number of people in Montana’s labor force remains at record levels, according to state officials.
The lowest unemployment rate in Montana was found at 1.7% in Fallon and McCone counties. The highest jobless rate in April was 9.5% in Big Horn County. Western Montana unemployment rates can be seen below:
- Missoula County – 3.1%
- Ravalli County – 3.7%
- Lake County – 3.9%
- Flathead Indian Reservation – 4.1%
- Flathead County – 5.1%
- Granite County – 6.1%
- Sanders County – 6.6%
- Lincoln County – 8.9%
