GREAT FALLS — Governor Greg Gianforte on Tuesday announced that Montana’s unemployment rate rose to 3.4% in December, continuing the record of four-plus consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4%.
Gianforte stated in a news release that Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.0% lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.4% in December.
Montana remained in the top ten states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.
Montana’s labor force added approximately 1,150 workers over the last month, while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased by 500, resulting in an increase in the unemployment rate.
Payroll jobs grew by over 2,000 in December, with the largest gains in construction and leisure activities.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis in December. Over the last twelve months, the all items index increased 2.7% before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter rose 0.4% in December and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase.
Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.6% over the last 12 months.
