HELENA — Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 5.3% in September after dropping from 5.6% in August.
The Treasure State has the ninth-lowest unemployment rate in the nation, according to a news release.
The national unemployment rate registered at 7.9% for September.
Total employment in September saw a gain of 4,250 over the month.
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry reports that total employment – which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers -- has regained over 48,000 jobs since the April low.
Payroll employment also posted gains of 3,100 jobs over the month, with retail and leisure activities adding 1,200 jobs each. Payroll employment has increased by 42,600 jobs since April.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 0.2% in September, with an increase in used cars and truck prices accounting for most of the rise.
The index for all items less food and energy, also called core inflation, rose by 0.2% over the month and 1.2% over the last year.
| Unemployment Rate | Employment | ||||
| Rank | County | Current Unemployment Rate | Change over Year | Current Employment | Job Change from Last Year |
| 1 | Garfield | 1.8 | -0.5 | 691 | -41 |
| 2 | Liberty | 2.1 | -0.4 | 925 | -18 |
| 3 | Powder River | 2.4 | 0.3 | 918 | -45 |
| 3 | Daniels | 2.6 | 0.7 | 847 | -19 |
| 3 | Petroleum | 2.6 | -0.2 | 261 | -14 |
| 6 | Carter | 2.8 | 0.5 | 626 | -20 |
| 6 | Sweet Grass | 2.8 | 0.5 | 1740 | -48 |
| 8 | Fergus | 3 | 0.6 | 5461 | -430 |
| 9 | Beaverhead | 3.1 | 0.6 | 4884 | -48 |
| 9 | Chouteau | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2358 | -42 |
| 11 | McCone | 3.3 | 1.2 | 878 | -72 |
| 12 | Teton | 3.3 | 0.5 | 2595 | -91 |
| 12 | Powell | 3.5 | 0.3 | 2754 | -174 |
| 12 | Phillips | 3.6 | 0.8 | 1782 | -67 |
| 15 | Valley | 3.6 | 0.4 | 3785 | -183 |
| 16 | Gallatin | 3.7 | 1.7 | 67576 | -347 |
| 16 | Madison | 3.7 | 0.9 | 4079 | -252 |
| 16 | Custer | 3.9 | 1.5 | 5858 | -79 |
| 19 | Golden Valley | 3.9 | 0.1 | 345 | -12 |
| 20 | Lewis and Clark | 3.9 | 1.2 | 33959 | -674 |
| 20 | Treasure | 3.9 | 1.6 | 319 | -14 |
| 20 | Deer Lodge | 4 | 1.3 | 4747 | -118 |
| 20 | Fallon | 4 | 2.3 | 1589 | -78 |
| 20 | Jefferson | 4 | 1.1 | 5375 | -124 |
| 25 | Judith Basin | 4 | 1.6 | 980 | 2 |
| 25 | Blaine | 4.1 | 1.2 | 2153 | -282 |
| 25 | Sheridan | 4.2 | 2 | 1683 | -17 |
| 25 | Hill | 4.3 | 1 | 7139 | -282 |
| 29 | Meagher | 4.3 | 1.5 | 893 | -11 |
| 29 | Carbon | 4.5 | 1.9 | 5202 | -138 |
| 29 | Ravalli | 4.5 | 1.2 | 19375 | -238 |
| 29 | Stillwater | 4.5 | 1.9 | 5060 | -104 |
| 29 | Wibaux | 4.5 | 1.3 | 425 | -22 |
| 34 | Yellowstone | 4.5 | 1.6 | 77749 | -1778 |
| 35 | Pondera | 4.6 | 1.5 | 2450 | -110 |
| 36 | Toole | 4.6 | 2.4 | 1953 | -112 |
| 37 | Missoula | 4.7 | 2 | 62217 | -362 |
| 38 | Park | 4.8 | 2.3 | 8771 | -107 |
| 38 | Cascade | 4.9 | 1.8 | 35808 | -913 |
| 40 | Granite | 5 | 0.7 | 1490 | -74 |
| 40 | Rosebud | 5 | 0.8 | 3443 | -226 |
| 40 | Broadwater | 5.1 | 1.8 | 2413 | -78 |
| 40 | Musselshell | 5.2 | 1.5 | 2142 | -47 |
| 44 | Lake | 5.3 | 1.7 | 12761 | -54 |
| 44 | Roosevelt | 5.3 | 1.6 | 4118 | -174 |
| 44 | Flathead | 5.5 | 1.8 | 45825 | -224 |
| 44 | Silver Bow | 5.6 | 2.4 | 15977 | -488 |
| 48 | Dawson | 5.8 | 3.3 | 4289 | -132 |
| 49 | Sanders | 5.8 | 1.4 | 4756 | 81 |
| 50 | Big Horn | 6.4 | 0.1 | 4466 | -80 |
| 51 | Wheatland | 6.5 | 3.5 | 720 | -54 |
| 52 | Richland | 6.8 | 3.9 | 5391 | -273 |
| 53 | Mineral | 6.9 | 2.3 | 1634 | -76 |
| 54 | Lincoln | 7.2 | 1.2 | 7469 | -177 |
| 55 | Prairie | 7.7 | 3.6 | 420 | -45 |
| 56 | Glacier | 8.3 | 2.6 | 5425 | -166 |
RESERVATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
| Unemployment Rate | Employment | ||||
| Rank | County | Current Unemployment Rate | Change over Year | Current Employment | Job Change from Last Year |
| 1 | Flathead | 5.5 | 1.7 | 12,535 | -37 |
| 2 | Fort Peck | 6.7 | 1.9 | 3,702 | -157 |
| 3 | Fort Belknap | 9.1 | 2.3 | 709 | -90 |
| 4 | Crow | 9.7 | 0.2 | 2,276 | -41 |
| 5 | Blackfeet | 11.5 | 3.5 | 3,815 | -120 |
| 6 | Northern Cheyenne | 11.9 | 1.3 | 1,218 | -59 |
| 7 | Rocky Boy's | 12.6 | 2.6 | 1,033 | -34 |
