New Record Number Of Montanans Working
The number of Montanans employed grew in June 2022 for the 14th consecutive month, reaching a new alltime high, according to data from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Also in the month of June, Montana’s labor force grew to its largest level on record, and the state’s unemployment rate remained near historic lows.
“More Montanans are working than ever before, and our expanding workforce is helping job creators fill key positions across the state. Montana workers continue to benefit from strong private sector job growth,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said. “Our economy continues to show strong signs of job growth, but with the federal government’s outof- control spending, Montanans are paying higher prices for gas and groceries as inflation reached its highest level in 41 years.”
Payroll employment in Montana rose by a strong 4,400 jobs in June, with the largest gains in private sector health care, accommodation, and food service industries. In June 2022, 1,095 jobs were created, with 30,550 jobs created since Gianforte was elected in November 2020. With 550,112 Montanans employed in June, Montana has recovered 146 percent of the jobs lost at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the second month in a row Montana’s labor force growth narrowly outpaced its job growth, resulting in a slight uptick in the unemployment rate for June by 0.2 percent to 2.6 percent, the third lowest rate ever recorded in Montana.
The unemployment rate for the U.S. remained at 3.6 percent in June.
Roosevelt County’s unemployment rate is 4.2 percent, which ranks it 51st in the state. The unemployment rate for the Fort Peck Reservation is 5.2 percent.
The two counties with the lowest unemployment are Daniels and Fallon at 1.8 percent. McCone County is third at 2 percent.
Valley County ranks 13th at 2.5 percent. Sheridan County is sixth at 2.1 percent. Richland County is 43rd at 3.3 percent.
